After a long parley the old man told me that my life would be spared, but my gun and pistol and all my provisions would be regarded as the spoils of the war.
Vainly I pointed out that he might as well kill me as leave me without food or the means to defend myself against wolves.

He said that his young men had granted a great deal in consenting to spare my life.

As for food, he pointed to the carcass of a deer that hung from the wall.
The next morning they mounted their ponies and galloped away.

I was glad enough to see them go.

I knew that my life had hung by a thread while I had been their involuntary host.