Pattie's father presently became ill, and no amount of entreaty was sufficient to gain permission for the son to see him even for a moment.
He died in his cell.

After much argument and the intercession of some of the minor officers, Pattie was permitted liberty long enough to attend the funeral.

At last the men were allowed to go back for the furs, which no doubt the wily general intended to confiscate, Pattie himself being retained as a hostage.

But the furs had been ruined by a rise of the river.

Smallpox then began to rage on the coast, and through this fact Pattie finally gained his freedom.