Page:Life and Adventures of William Buckley.djvu/128

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LIFE OF BUCKLEY.
105

I followed as fast as I could run, and crossed over to where I supposed they were cutting wood. However, the breeze being in their favour, before I could reach the spot, they had cut as much as they wanted, put it into the boat, and shoved off, only laughing at my violent gesticulations and unintelligible cries; little thinking who I was, or that I was any other than I appeared to be in my native dress. Forgetting all this, I reproached them to myself very bitterly, thinking them worse than savages, thus to leave me in my misery. Instead of their having been guilty of inhumanity, I should have remembered the possibility and probability of their firing upon me—and particularly after the act of robbery before mentioned.

After consoling myself somewhat, I examined the spot where they had been, thinking to find—perhaps a hatchet, or some such like tool, which would prove useful. In looking about, I saw a mound of earth about the size of a grave; but I foolishly thought it might be a place of concealment for some kind of treasure; and, although money, or plate, or jewels, could not have been of the least use to me in my disconsolate condition, yet I determined to examine the mound; and began to do so, by taking off the turfs with which it was covered. Having worked some time, I was shocked at coming to the body of a white man, wrapped up in a blanket. It occurred to me to remove this covering, as the weather was very cold; and it seemed a pity to leave so good an article where it was, but I could not find it in my heart to rob the dead—even to supply my own