Chapter XXIX.

by James Fenimore Cooper

　　For an Indian isle she shapes her way With constant mind both night and day: She seems to hold her home in view And sails as if the path she knew, So calm and stately in her motion Across the unfathomed, trackless ocean. -- WILSON.It has been said that Peter was in advance. When his canoe wasnearly abreast of the usual landing at the hut, he saw two canoescoming out from among the rice, and distant from him not more than ahundred yards. At a greater distance, indeed, it would not have beeneasy to distinguish such an object on the water at all. Instead ofattempting to avoid these two canoes, the chief instantly called tothem, drawing the attention of those in them to himself, speaking soloud as to be easily overheard by those who followed.

　　"My young men are too late," he said. "The pale-faces have been seenin the openings above by our warriors, and must soon be here. Let usland, and be ready to meet them at the wigwam."

　　Peter's voice was immediately recognized. The confident, quiet,natural manner in which he spoke served to mislead those in thecanoes; and when he joined them, and entered the passage among therice that led to the landing, preceding the others, the lastfollowed him as regularly as the colt follows its dam. Le Bourdonheard the conversation, and understood the movement, though he couldnot see the canoes. Peter continued talking aloud, as he went up thepassage, receiving answers to all he said from his new companions,his voice serving to let the fugitives know precisely where theywere. All this was understood and improved by the last, who lost notime in turning the adventure to account.

　　The first impulse of le Bourdon had been to turn and fly up stream.But, ascertaining that these dangerous enemies were so fullyoccupied by Peter as not to see the canoes behind, he merelyinclined a little toward the other side of the channel, andslackened his rate of movement, in order not to come too near. Theinstant he was satisfied that all three of the canoes in advance hadentered the passage mentioned, and were moving toward the landing,he let out, and glided down stream like an arrow. It required buthalf a minute to cross the opening of the passage, but Peter'sconversation kept his followers looking ahead, which greatlylessened the risk. Le Bourdon's heart was in his mouth severaltimes, while thus running the gauntlet, as it might be; but fortunefavored them; or, as Margery more piously understood thecircumstances, a Divine Providence led them in safety past thedanger.

　　At the mouth of the river both le Bourdon and Gershom thought ithighly probable that they should fall in with more lookouts, andeach prepared his arms for a fight. But no canoe was there, and thefugitives were soon in the lake. Michigan is a large body of water,and a bark canoe is but a frail craft to put to sea in, when thereis any wind or commotion. On the present occasion, there was a gooddeal of both; so much as greatly to terrify the females. Of all thecraft known, however, one of these egg-shells is really the safest,if properly managed, among breakers or amid the combing of seas. Wehave ourselves ridden in them safely through a surf that would haveswamped the best man-of-war cutter that ever floated; and done it,too, without taking on board as much water as would serve to washone's hands. The light vessel floats on so little of the element,indeed, that the foam of a large sea has scarce a chance of gettingabove it, or aboard it; the great point in the handling being toprevent the canoe from falling broadside to. By keeping it end on tothe sea, in our opinion, a smart gale might be weathered in one ofthese craft, provided the endurance of a man could bear up againstthe unceasing watchfulness and incessant labor of sweeping with thepaddle, in order to prevent broaching to.

　　Le Bourdon, it has been said, was very skilful in the management ofhis craft; and Gershom, now perforce a sober and useful man, was notmuch behind him in this particular. The former had foreseen thisvery difficulty, and made all his arrangements to counteract it. Nosooner, therefore, did he find the canoes in rough water than hebrought them together, side by side, and lashed them there. Thisgreatly lessened the danger of capsizing, though it increased thelabor of managing the craft when disposed to turn broadside to. Itonly remained to get sail on the catamaran, for some such thing wasit now, in order to keep ahead of the sea as much as possible. Lightcotton lugs were soon spread, one in each canoe, and away they went,as sailors term it, wing and wing.

　　It was now much easier steering, though untiring vigilance was stillnecessary. A boat may appear to fly, and yet the "send of the sea"shall glance ahead of it with the velocity of a bird. Nothing thatgoes through, or on, the water--and the last is the phrase bestsuited to the floating of a bark canoe--can ever be made to keepcompany with that feathery foam, which, under the several names of"white-caps"--an in-shore and lubber's term--"combs," "breaking ofthe seas," "the wash," etc., etc., glances by a vessel in a blow, orcomes on board her even when she is running before it. We have oftenwatched these clouds of water, as they have shot ahead of us, whenploughing our own ten or eleven knot through the brine, and theyhave ever appeared to us as so many useful admonishers of what thepower of God is, as compared to the power of man. The last shallconstruct his ship, fit her with all the appliances of his utmostart, sail her with the seaman's skill, and force her through herelement with something like railroad speed; yet will the seas "send"their feathery crests past her, like so many dolphins, or porpoises,sporting under her fore-foot. It is this following sea which becomesso very dangerous in heavy gales, and which compels the largestships frequently to heave to, in order that they may present theirbows to its almost resistless power.

　　But our adventurers had no such gales as those we mean, or any suchseas to withstand. The wind blew fresh from the south, and Michigancan get up a very respectable swell at need. Like the seas in allthe great lakes, it was short, and all the worse for that. Thelarger the expanse of water over which the wind passes, the longeris the sea, and the easier is it for the ship to ride on it. Thoseof Lake Michigan, however, were quite long enough for a bark canoe,and glad enough were both Margery and Dorothy when they found theirtwo little vessels lashed together, and wearing an air of morestability than was common to them. Le Bourdon's sail was firstspread, and it produced an immediate relief from the washing of thewaves. The drift of a bark canoe, in a smart blow, is considerable,it having no hold on the water to resist it; but our adventurersfairly flew as soon as the cotton cloth was opened. The wind beingexactly south, by steering due north, or dead before it, it wasfound possible to carry the sail in the other canoe, borne out onthe opposite side; and from the moment that was opened, all thedifficulty was reduced to steering so "small," as seamen term it, asto prevent one or the other of the lugs from jibing. Had thisoccurred, however, no very serious consequences would have followed,the precaution taken of lashing the craft together renderingcapsizing next to impossible.

　　The Kalamazoo and its mouth were soon far behind, and le Bourdon nolonger felt the least apprehension of the savages left in it. TheIndians are not bold navigators, and he felt certain that the lakewas too rough for the savages to venture out, while his own coursegradually carried him off the land, and out of the track of anythingthat kept near the shore. A short time produced a sense of security,and the wind appearing to fall, instead of increasing in violence,it was soon arranged that one of the men should sleep, while theother looked to the safety of the canoes.

　　It was about nine o'clock when the fugitives made sail, off themouth of the Kalamazoo; and, at the return of light, seven hourslater, they were more than forty miles from the place of starting.The wind still stood, with symptoms of growing fresher again as thesun rose, and the land could just be seen in the eastern board, thecoast in that direction having made a considerable curvature inland.This had brought the canoes farther from the land than le Bourdonwished to be, but he could not materially change his course withouttaking in one of his sails. As much variation was made, however, aswas prudent, and by nine o'clock, or twelve hours after entering thelake, the canoes again drew near to the shore, which met them ahead.By the bee hunter's calculations, they were now about seventy milesfrom the mouth of the Kalamazoo, having passed the outlets of two orthree of the largest streams of those regions.

　　The fugitives selected a favorable spot, and landed behind aheadland that gave them a sufficient lee for the canoes. They hadnow reached a point where the coast trends a little to the eastward,which brought the wind in a slight degree off the land. This changeproduced no very great effect on the seas, but it enabled the canoesto keep close to the shore, making something of a lee for them. Thisthey did about noon, after having lighted a fire, caught some fishin a small stream, killed a deer and dressed it, and cooked enoughprovisions to last for two or three days. The canoes were nowseparated again; it being easier to manage them in that state thanwhen lashed together, besides enabling them to carry both sails. Thefarther north they got the more of a lee was found, though it was inno place sufficient to bring smooth water.

　　In this manner several more hours were passed, and six times as manymore miles were made in distance. When le Bourdon again landed,which he did shortly before the sun set, he calculated his distancefrom the mouth of the Kalamazoo to be rather more than a hundredmiles. His principal object was to ascend a bluff and to take a lookat the coast, in order to examine it for canoes. This his glassenabled him to do with some accuracy, and when he rejoined theparty, he was rejoiced to have it in his power to report that thecoast was clear. After refreshing themselves, the canoes were againbrought together, in order to divide the watches, and a new startwas made for the night. In this manner did our adventurers maketheir way to the northward for two nights and days, landing often,to fish, hunt, rest, and cook, as well as to examine the coast. Atthe end of the time mentioned, the celebrated straits of theMichillimackinac, or Mackinaw, as they are almost universallytermed, came in sight. The course had been gradually changing towardthe eastward, and, luckily for the progress of the fugitives, thewind with it, leaving them always a favorable breeze. But it wasfelt to be no longer safe to use a sail, and recourse was had to thepaddles, until the straits and island were passed. This caused somedelay, and added a good deal to the labor; but it was deemed sodangerous to display their white cotton sails, objects that might beseen for a considerable distance, that it was thought preferable toadopt this caution. Nor was it useless. In consequence of thisforesight, a fleet of canoes was passed in safety, which werecrossing from the post at Mackinaw to ward the main land ofMichigan. The number of the canoes in this fleet could not have beenless than fifty, but getting a timely view of them, le Bourdon hidhis own craft in a cove, and remained there until the danger wasover.

　　The course now changed still more, while the wind got quite round tothe westward. This made a fair wind at first, and gave the canoes agood lee as they advanced. Lake Huron, which was the water thefugitives were now on, lies nearly parallel to Michigan, and thecourse was southeasterly. As le Bourdon had often passed both wayson these waters, he had his favorite harbors, and knew those signswhich teach navigators how to make their prognostics of the weather.On the whole, the fugitives did very well, though they lost two daysbetween Mackinaw and Saginaw Bay; one on account of the strength ofthe wind, and one on account of rain. During the last, they remainedin a hut that le Bourdon had himself constructed in one of his manyvoyages, and which he had left standing. These empty cabins, orchientes, are of frequent occurrence in new countries, being used,like the Refuges in the Alps, by every traveller as he has need ofthem.

　　The sight of the fleet of canoes, in the straits ofMichillimackinac, caused the fugitives the only real trouble theyhad felt, between the time when they left the mouth of theKalamazoo, and the ten days that succeeded. By the end of thatperiod the party had crossed Saginaw, and was fast coming up withPoint au Barques, a landmark for all who navigate the waters ofHuron, when a canoe was seen coming out from under the land,steering as if to intercept them. This sight gave both concern andpleasure; concern, as it might lead to a hostile encounter, andpleasure, because the bee-hunter hoped for information that might beuseful in governing his future course. Here his glass came in play,with good effect. By means of that instrument, it was soonascertained that the strange canoe contained but two men, bothIndians, and as that was just their own force no great danger wasapprehended from the meeting. The craft, therefore, continued toapproach each other, le Bourdon keeping his glass levelled on thestrangers much of the time.

　　"As I live, yonder are Peter and Pigeonswing," suddenly exclaimedour hero. "They have crossed the Peninsula, and have come out fromthe point, in that canoe, to meet us."

　　"With important news, then, depend on it, Benjamin," answered thewife. "Tell this to brother, that he and Dolly may not feel morealarm than is necessary."

　　The bee-hunter called out to his friends in the other canoe, andcommunicated the discovery just made, the two craft keeping alwayswithin hailing distance of each other.

　　"Them Injins are not here for nothing," answered Dorothy. "You willfind they have something serious to say."

　　"We shall soon know," called out le Bourdon. "Ten minutes will bringus alongside of them."

　　The ten minutes did that much, and before the expiration of theshort space, the three canoes were fastened together, that of Peterbeing in the centre. The bee-hunter saw, at a glance, that theexpedition of the Indians had been hurried; for their canoe, besidesbeing of very indifferent qualities, was not provided with theimplements and conveniences usual to a voyage of any length. Still,he would not ask a question, but lighting his pipe, after a fewpuffs, he passed it courteously over to Peter. The great chiefsmoked a while, and gave it to Pigeonswing, in his turn, whoappeared to enjoy it quite as much as any of the party.

　　"My father does not believe he is a Jew?" said le Bourdon, smiling;willing to commence a discourse, though still determined not tobetray a womanish curiosity.

　　"We are poor Injins, Bourdon; just as the Great Spirit made us. Datbess. Can't help what Manitou do. If he don't make us Jew, can't beJew. If he make us Injin, muss be Injin. For my part, b'lieve I'mInjin, and don't want to be pale-face. Can love pale-face, now, jussas well as love Injin."

　　"Oh, I hope this is true, Peter," exclaimed Margery, her handsomeface flushing with delight, at hearing these words. "So long as yourheart tells you this, be certain that the Spirit of God is in you."

　　Peter made no answer, but he looked profoundly impressed with thenovel feeling that had taken possession of his soul. As for the bee-hunter, he did not meddle with Margery's convictions or emotions onsuch subjects, resembling, in this particular, most men, who,however indifferent to religion in their own persons, are neversorry to find that their wives profoundly submit to its influence.After a short pause, a species of homage involuntarily paid to thesubject, he thought he might now inquire into the circumstances thatbrought the Indians on their route, without incurring the imputationof a weak and impatient curiosity. In reply, Peter's story was soontold. He had rejoined the chiefs without exciting distrust, and allhad waited for the young men to bring in the captives. As soon as itwas ascertained that the intended victims had escaped, and by water,parties proceeded to different points, in order to intercept them.Some followed in canoes, but, being less bold in their navigationthan the bee-hunter, they did not make the straits until some timeafter the fugitives had passed. Peter, himself, had joined Bear'sMeat and some twenty warriors who had crossed the Peninsula,procured canoes at the head of Saginaw Bay, and had come out atPoint au Barques, the very spot our party was now approaching, threedays before its arrival.

　　Tired with waiting, and uncertain whether his enemies had not gotthe start of him, Bear's Meat had gone into the river below,intending to keep his watch there, leaving Peter at the Point, withthree young men and one canoe, to have a lookout. These young menthe great chief had found an excuse for sending to the head of theBay, in quest of another canoe, which left him, of course, quitealone on the Point. Scarce had the young man got out of sight, erePigeonswing joined his confederate, for it seems that this faithfulfriend had kept on the skirts of the enemy the whole time,travelling hundreds of miles, and enduring hunger and fatigue,besides risking his life at nearly every step, in order to be of useto those whom he considered himself pledged to serve.

　　Of course, Peter and Pigeonswing understood each other. One hourafter they joined company, the canoes of the fugitives came insight, and were immediately recognized by their sails. They weremet, as has been mentioned, and the explanations that we have givenwere made before the party landed at the Point.

　　It was something to know where the risk was to be apprehended; butle Bourdon foresaw great danger. He had brought his canoes, already,quite five hundred miles, along a hazardous coast--though a littlecraft, like one of those he navigated, ran less risk, perhaps, thana larger vessel, since a shelter might, at any time, be found withina reasonable distance for it. From Pointe au Barques to the outletof the lake was less than a hundred miles more. This outlet was ariver, as it is called--a strait, in fact--which communicates withthe small shallow lake of St. Clair, by a passage of some thirtymiles in length. Then the lake St. Clair was to be crossed about anequal distance, when the canoes would come out in what is called theDetroit River, a strait again, as its name indicates. Some six oreight miles down this passage, and on its western side, stands thecity of Detroit, then a village of no great extent, with a fortbetter situated to repel an attack of the savages, than to withstanda siege of white men. This place was now in the possession of theBritish, and, according to le Bourdon's notion, it was scarcely lessdangerous to him than the hostility of Bear's Meat and hiscompanions.

　　Delay, however, was quite as dangerous as anything else. Aftercooking and eating, therefore, the canoes continued their course,Peter and Pigeonswing accompanying them, though they abandoned theirown craft. Peter went with the bee-hunter and Margery, while theChippewa took a seat and a paddle in the canoe of Gershom. Thischange was made in order to put a double power in each canoe, sinceit was possible that downright speed might become the only means ofsafety.

　　The wind still stood at the westward, and the rate of sailing wasrapid. About the close of the day the party drew near to the outlet,when Peter directed the sails to be taken in. This was done toprevent their being seen, a precaution that was now aided by keepingas near to the shore as possible, where objects so small and lowwould be very apt to be confounded with others on the land.

　　It was quite dark when the canoes entered the St. Clair river.Favored by the current and the wind, their progress was rapid, andere the day returned, changing his direction from the courseordinarily taken, Peter entered the lake by a circuitous passage;one of the many that lead from the river to the lake, among aquaticplants that form a perfect shelter. This detour saved the fugitivesfrom falling into the hands of one party of their enemies, as wasafterward ascertained by the Indians. Bear's Meat had left twocanoes, each manned by five warriors, to watch the principalpassages into Lake St. Clair, not anticipating that any particularcaution would be used by the bee-hunter and his friends, at thisgreat distance from the place where they had escaped from theirfoes. But the arrival of Peter, his sagacity, and knowledge ofIndian habits, prevented the result that was expected. The canoesgot into the lake unseen, and crossed it a little diagonally, so asto reach the Canada shore in the middle of the afternoon of thesucceeding day, using their sails only when far from land, and notexposed to watchful eyes.

　　The bee-hunter and his friends landed that afternoon at the cabin ofa Canadian Frenchman, on the shore of the lake, and at a safedistance from the outlet which led still farther south. Here thefemales were hospitably received, and treated with that kindnesswhich marks the character of the Canadian French. It mattered littleto these simple people, whether the travellers were of the hostilenation or not. It is true, they did not like the "Yankees," as allAmericans are termed by them, but they were not particularly in lovewith their English masters. It was well enough to be repossessed ofboth banks of the Detroit, for both banks were then peopledprincipally by their own race, the descendants of Frenchmen of thetime of Louis XIV., and who still preserved much of the language,and many of the usages, of the French of that period. They spokethen, as now, only the language of their fathers.

　　The bee-hunter left the cottage of these simple and hospitablepeople, as soon as the night was fairly set in; or, rather, as soonas a young moon had gone down. Peter now took the command, steeringthe canoe of le Bourdon, while Gershom followed so close as to keepthe bow of his little craft within reach of the Indian's arm. Inless than an hour the fugitives reached the opening of the river,which is here divided into two channels by a large island. On thatvery island, and at that precise moment, was Bear's Meat lying inwait for their appearance, provided with three canoes, each having acrew of six men. It would have been easy for this chief to go toDetroit, and give the alarm to the savages who were then collectedthere in a large force, and to have made such a disposition of thecanoes as would have rendered escape by water impossible; but thiswould have been robbing himself and his friends of all the credit oftaking the scalps, and throwing away what is termed "honor" amongothers as well as among savages. He chose, therefore, to trust tohis own ability to succeed; and supposing the fugitives would not beparticularly on their guard at this point, had little doubt ofintercepting them here, should they succeed in eluding those he hadleft above.

　　The bee-hunter distrusted that island, and used extra caution inpassing it. In the first place, the two canoes were broughttogether, so as to give them, in the dark, the appearance of onlyone; while the four men added so much to the crew as to aid thedeception. In the end it proved that one of Bear's Meat's canoesthat was paddling about in the middle of the river had actually seenthem, but mistook the party for a canoe of their own, which ought tohave been near that spot, with precisely six persons in it, just atthat time. These six warriors had landed, and gone up among thecottages of the French to obtain some fruit, of which they were veryfond, and of which they got but little in their own villages. Owingto this lucky coincidence, which the pretty Margery ever regarded asanother special interposition of Providence in their favor, thefugitives passed the island without molestation, and actually gotbelow the last lookouts of Bear's Meat, though without theirknowledge.

　　It was by no means a difficult thing to go down the river, now thatso many canoes were in motion on it, at all hours. The bee-hunterknew what points were to be avoided, and took care not to approach asentinel. The river, or strait, is less than a mile wide, and bykeeping in the centre of the passage, the canoes, favored by bothwind and current, drove by the town, then an inconsiderable village,without detection. As soon as far enough below, the canoes wereagain cast loose from each other, and sail was made on each. Thewater was smooth, and some time before the return of light thefugitives were abreast of Malden, but in the American channel. Hadit been otherwise, the danger could not have been great. Socompletely were the Americans subdued by Hull's capitulation, and sonumerous were the Indian allies of the British, that the passage ofa bark canoe, more or less, would hardly have attracted attention.At that time, Michigan was a province of but little more than aname. The territory was wide, to be sure, but the entire populationwas not larger than that of a moderately sized English market town,and Detroit was then regarded as a distant and isolated point. It istrue that Mackinac and Chicago were both more remote, and both moreisolated, but an English force, in possession of Detroit, could beapproached by the Americans on the side of the land only byovercoming the obstacles of a broad belt of difficult wilderness.This was done the succeeding year, it is true, but time is alwaysnecessary to bring out Jonathan's latent military energies. Whenaroused, they are not trifling, as all his enemies have been made tofeel; but a good deal of miscalculation, pretending ignorance, anduseless talking must be expended, before the really efficient areallowed to set about serving the country in their own way.

　　In this respect, thanks to West Point, a well-organized staff, andwell-educated officers, matters are a little improving. Congress hasnot been able to destroy the army, in the present war, though it didits best to attain that end; and all because the nucleus was toopowerful to be totally eclipsed by the gas of the usual legislativetail of the Great National Comet, of which neither the materials northe orbit can any man say he knows. One day, it declares war with ahurrah; the next, it denies the legislation necessary to carry iton, as if it distrusted its own acts, and already repented of itspatriotism. And this is the body, soulless, the very school offaction, as a whole of very questionable quality in the outset,that, according to certain expounders of the constitution, is toperform all the functions of a government; which is not only to passlaws, but is to interpret them; which is to command the army, aye,even to wheeling its platoons; which reads the constitution as anabbe mumbles his aves and paters, or looking at everything but histexts; and which is never to have its acts vetoed, unless in caseswhere the Supreme Court would spare the Executive that trouble. Wenever yet could see either the elements or the fruits of this greatsanctity in the National Council. In our eyes it is scarcely ever inits proper place on the railway of the Union, has degenerated into amere electioneering machine, performing the little it really doesconvulsively, by sudden impulses, equally without deliberation or asense of responsibility. In a word, we deem it the power of allothers in the state that needs the closest watching, and were wewhat is termed in this country "politicians," we should go for theexecutive who is the most ready to apply the curb to these vagariesof faction and interested partisans! Vetoes. Would to Heaven wecould see the days of Good Queen Bess revived for one session ofCongress at least, and find that more laws were sent back for thesecond thoughts of their framers than were approved! Then, indeed,might the country be brought back to a knowledge of the verymaterial constitutional facts that the legislature is not commander-in-chief, does not negotiate or make treaties, and has no right todo that which it has done so often--appoint to office by act ofCongress.

　　As a consequence of the little apprehension entertained by theEnglish of being soon disturbed in their new conquests, le Bourdonand his friends got out of the Detroit River, and into Lake Erie,without discovery or molestation. There still remained a longjourney before them. In that day the American side of the shores ofall the Great Lakes was little more than a wilderness. There wereexceptions at particular points, but these were few and far asunder.The whole coast of Ohio--for Ohio has its coast as well as Bohemia[Footnote: See Shakespeare--Winter's Tale.]--was mostly in a stateof nature, as was much of those of Pennsylvania and New York, on theside of the fresh water. The port which the bee-hunter had in viewwas Presque Isle, now known as Erie, a harbor in Pennsylvania, thathas since become somewhat celebrated in consequence of its being theport out of which the American vessels sailed, about a year laterthan the period of which we are writing, to fight the battle thatgave them the mastery of the lake. This was a little voyage ofitself, of near two hundred miles, following the islands and thecoast, but it was safely made in the course of the succeeding week.Once in Lake Erie and on the American side, our adventurers feltreasonably safe against all dangers but those of the elements. It istrue that a renowned annalist, whose information is sustained by thecollected wisdom of a State Historical Society, does tell us thatthe enemy possessed both shores of Lake Erie in 1814; but this wasso small a mistake, compared with some others that this Nestor inhistory had made, that we shall not stop to explain it. Le Bourdonand his party found all the south shore of Lake Erie in possessionof the Americans, so far as it was in the possession of any one, andconsequently ran no risks from this blunder of the historian and hishighly intelligent associates!

　　Peter and Pigeonswing left their friends before they reached PresqueIsle. The bee-hunter gave them his own canoe, and the parting wasnot only friendly, but touching. In the course of their journey, andduring their many stops, Margery had frequently prayed with thegreat chief. His constant and burning desire, now, was to learn toread, that he might peruse the word of the Great Spirit, andregulate his future life by its wisdom and tenets. Margery promised,should they ever meet again, and under circumstances favorable tosuch a design, to help him attain his wishes.

　　Pigeonswing parted from his friend with the same light-heartedvivacity as he had manifested in all their intercourse. Le Bourdongave him his own rifle, plenty of ammunition, and various othersmall articles that were of value to an Indian, accepting theChippewa's arms in return. The exchange, however, was greatly to theadvantage of the savage. As for Peter, he declined all presents. Hecarried weapons now, indeed, merely for the purpose of hunting; butthe dignity of his character and station would have placed him abovesuch compensations, had the fact been otherwise.