MARTIN RATTLER. 225

danger in travelling in such a country without arms,
covering, or provisions. He therefore determined on
the bold expedient of revisiting the Indian village
during the darkness of the night in order to procure
what he required. He ran great risk of being re-
taken ; but his necessity was urgent, and he was aware
that several families were absent on a hunting ex-
pedition at that time whose huts were pretty certain
to be unoccupied.

Accordingly, when two or three hours of the night
had passed, he clambered with much difficulty down
the precipitous rocks and reached the level plain, over
which he quickly ran, and soon reached the outskirts
of the village. The Indians were all asleep, and no
sound disturbed the solemn stillness of the night.
Going stealthily towards a hut, he peeped in at the
open window, but could see and hear nothing. Just
as he was about to enter, however, a long-drawn
breath proved that it was occupied. He shrank
hastily back into the deep shade of the bushes. In
a few minutes he recovered from the agitation into
which he had been thrown, and advanced cautiously
towards another hut. This one seemed to be un-
tenanted, so he opened the palm-leaf door gently and
entered. No time was to be lost now. He found an
empty sack or bag, into which he hastily threw as

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