The opening of this tent looked eastward and towards the
fort; and on its extreme summit floated a dark flag,
which at intervals spread itself before the slight evening
breeze, but oftener hung drooping and heavily over the
glittering canvass. One solitary pine, whose trunk exceeded
not the ordinary thickness of a man's waist, and standing
out as a landmark on the ridge, rose at the distance of
a few feet from the spot on which the tent had been
erected; and to this was bound the tall and elegant figure
of one dressed in the coarse garb of a sailor. The arms
and legs of this individual were perfectly free; but a
strong rope, rendered doubly secure after the manner of
what is termed "whipping" among seamen, after having been
tightly drawn several times around his waist, and then
firmly knotted behind, was again passed round the tree,
to which the back of the prisoner was closely lashed;
thus enabling, or rather compelling, him to be a spectator
of every object within the tent.
Layers of bark, over which were spread the dressed skins
of the bear and the buffalo, formed the floor and carpet
of the latter; and on these, in various parts, and in
characteristic attitudes, reposed the forms of three
human beings;--one, the formidable warrior of the Fleur
de lis.
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