Adventure and adventurers > Away in the wilderness, or, Life among the red Indians and fur-traders of North America

AWAY IN THE WILDERNESS.
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and at this point the trader stepped in to help him
to decide; he recommended, warned, and advised.
Twine was to be got for nets and fishing-lines,
powder and shot, axes for cutting his winter fire¬
wood, cloth for his own and his wives’ leggings,
knives, tobacco, needles, and an endless variety of
things, which gradually lessened his little pile of
sticks, until at last he reached the sticking-point,
when all his sticks were gone.
“ Now, Darkeye (that was the chief’s name),
you’ve come to the end at last, and a good thing
you have made of it this year,” said Mr. Grant,
in the Indian language. “ Have you got all you
want 1”
“ Darkeye wants bullets,” said the chief.
“ Ah ! to be sure. You shall have a lot of
these for nothing, and some tobacco too,” said the
trader, handing the gifts to the Indian.
A look of satisfaction lighted up the chief’s
countenance as he received the gifts, and made
way for another Indian to open and display his
pack of furs. But Jasper was struck by a pecu¬
liar expression in the face of Darkeye. Observing
that he took up one of the bullets and showed it
to another savage, our hunter edged near him to
overhear the conversation.
“ Do you see that ball 1” said the chief, in a
low tone.
The Indian to whom he spoke nodded.