He had laughed with others at these claims, and had thought little enough of them when with father and brother he set out for the western frontier.
There was then peace between the nations.

Nor had it entered into the calculations of the settlers that their white brethren would stir up the friendly Indians against them, and bring havoc and destruction to their scattered dwellings.

That was a method of warfare undreamed of a few years back; but it was now becoming a terrible reality.
"But your life was spared ?" said Humphrey at last; "and yet the scalping-knife came very close to doing its horrid work." "Yes: they spared me--he spared me--when he had made me suffer what was tenfold worse than death; yet I wot well he only thought to leave me to a lingering death of anguish, more terrible than that of the scalping knife! They knew not that I had any to come to my succour.

When he drew off the howling Indians and left me bound to the stump, he thought he left me to perish of starvation and burning thirst.

It was no mercy that he showed me--rather a refinement of cruelty.