CHAPTER XXVI.
INCIDENTS AND PECULIARITIES OF THE INDIANS.
During our residence in Canada, we were often visited by the Indians, which gave us an opportunity to learn their character, habits and disposition; and some incidents illustrative of the peculiarities of that abused people, I will here mention.
I recollect one bitter cold night, about eleven o'clock, I happened to awake, and looking out toward the fire, I was surprised to see standing there, erect and quiet, a tall, brawny Indian, wrapped in his blanket; his long hunting knife and tomahawk dangling from his belt; and his rifle in his hand.

Had he been in his own wigwam, he could not have looked about him with more satisfaction and independence.

I instantly sprang to my feet, and demanded his errand.
"Me lost in the woods, and me come to stay all night," was his grave reply.
"Then," said I, "give me your weapons, and I will make no objection." He disarmed himself, and gave his weapons to me, with an air of haughty disdain for my fears.

I put them in a place of safety and then prepared his bed, which was nothing more than the floor, where they choose to sleep, with their head to the fire.

My offer of anything different from this he proudly resented as an insult to his powers of endurance, and would say, "beds for pale faces and women; hard board for Indians." He threw himself down, drew his blanket about him, and was soon sleeping soundly.