Page:Summer on the lakes, in 1843.djvu/208

198 had not so much sugar to spare. “Give me then,” said he, “what you can spare,” and Mr. B. thinking to make him back out, told him he would give him five pounds of sugar for his skin. “Take it,” said the Indian. He left the skin, telling Mr. B. to take good care of it. Mr. B. took it at once to the trader's store, and related the circumstance, congratulating himself that he had got rid of the Indian's exactions. But, in about a month, Key-way-no-wut appeared bringing some dirty Indian sugar, and said “I have brought back the sugar that I borrowed of you, and I want my otter skin back.” Mr. B. told him, “I bought an otter skin of you, but if you will return the other articles you have got for it, perhaps I can get it for you.” “Where is the skin?” said he very quickly, “what have you done with it?” Mr. B. replied it was in the trader's store, where he (the Indian) could not get it. At this information he was furious, laid his hands on his knife and tomahawk, and commanded Mr. B. to bring it at once. Mr. B. found this was the crisis, where he must take a stand or be “rode over rough shod” by this man; his wife, who was present was much alarmed, and begged he would get the skin for the Indian, but he told her that “either he or the Indian would soon be master of his house, and if she was afraid to see it decided which was to be so, she had better retire.” He turned to Key-way-no-wut, and addressed him in a stern voice as follows: “I will not give you the skin. How often have you come to my house, and I have shared with you what I had. I gave you tobacco when you were well, and medicine when you were