I had still my axe in my belt, which the Indians had not taken from me, as also my hunting-knife.  I was nearly throwing away the first when crossing the river, but, feeling its value, I resolved to keep it as long as I could, and was very glad I had done so.  Once the thought came into my mind that, should the sentry at last go to sleep, I might kill all the Indians with my axe before they could awake.  I remembered a story I had heard of a white woman who had been made prisoner thus killing all her captors while sleeping, and ultimately escaping; but I put the idea from me as a temptation of Satan, and felt more happy when I had done so.  They had unjustly made me captive, it is true, but they were only following the instincts of their savage nature; and it would be a dreadful thing to think of afterwards, should I deprive them of life.