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100% found this document useful (2 votes)
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Solution Manual for MATLAB: A Practical Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving 5th Edition download

Solution Manual installation

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Chapter 2: Vectors and Matrices

Exercises

1) If a variable has the dimensions 3 x 4, could it be considered to be (bold all that


apply):
a matrix
a row vector
a column vector
a scalar

2) If a variable has the dimensions 1 x 5, could it be considered to be (bold all that


apply):
a matrix
a row vector
a column vector
a scalar

3) If a variable has the dimensions 5 x 1, could it be considered to be (bold all that


apply):
a matrix
a row vector
a column vector
a scalar

4) If a variable has the dimensions 1 x 1, could it be considered to be (bold all that


apply):
a matrix
a row vector
a column vector
a scalar

5) Using the colon operator, create the following row vectors


3 4 5 6 7 8

1.3000 1.7000 2.1000 2.5000

9 7 5 3

>> 3:8
ans =
3 4 5 6 7 8
>> 1.3: 0.4: 2.5
ans =
1.3000 1.7000 2.1000 2.5000
>> 9: -2: 3
ans =
9 7 5 3

6) Using a built-in function, create a vector vec which consists of 30 equally spaced
points in the range from –2*pi to +pi.

>> vec = linspace(-2*pi, pi, 30)

7) Write an expression using linspace that will result in the same as 1:0.5:3

>> 1: 0.5: 3
ans =
1.0000 1.5000 2.0000 2.5000 3.0000
>> linspace(1,3,5)
ans =
1.0000 1.5000 2.0000 2.5000 3.0000

8) Using the colon operator and also the linspace function, create the following row
vectors:

-4 -3 -2 -1 0

9 7 5

4 6 8

>> -4:0
ans =
-4 -3 -2 -1 0
>> linspace(-4, 0, 5)
ans =
-4 -3 -2 -1 0
>> 9:-2:5
ans =
9 7 5
>> linspace(9, 5, 3)
ans =
9 7 5
>> 4:2:8
ans =
4 6 8
>> linspace(4,8,3)
ans =
4 6 8

9) How many elements would be in the vectors created by the following expressions?
linspace(3,2000)

100 (always, by default)

logspace(3,2000)

50 (always, by default – although these numbers


would get very large quickly; most would be
represented as Inf)

10) Create a variable myend which stores a random integer in the inclusive range from
5 to 9. Using the colon operator, create a vector that iterates from 1 to myend in steps
of 3.

>>myend = randi([5, 9])


myend =
8
>> vec = 1:3:myend
vec =
1 4 7

11) Create two row vector variables. Concatenate them together to create a new row
vector variable.

>> rowa = 2:4


rowa =
2 3 4
>> rowb = 5:2:10
rowb =
5 7 9
>> newrow = [rowa rowb]
newrow =
2 3 4 5 7 9
>>

12) Using the colon operator and the transpose operator, create a column vector
myvec that has the values -1 to 1 in steps of 0.5.

>> rowVec = -1: 0.5: 1;


>> rowVec'
ans =
-1.0000
-0.5000
0
0.5000
1.0000
13)Explain why the following expression results in a row vector, not a column vector:

colvec = 1:3’

Only the 3 is transposed; need to put in [] to get a column


vector

14) Write an expression that refers to only the elements that have odd-numbered
subscripts in a vector, regardless of the length of the vector. Test your expression on
vectors that have both an odd and even number of elements.

>> vec = 1:8;


>> vec(1:2:end)
ans =
1 3 5 7

>> vec = 4:12


vec =
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
>> vec(1:2:end)
ans =
4 6 8 10 12

15) Generate a 2 x 4 matrix variable mat. Replace the first row with 1:4. Replace the
third column (you decide with which values).

>> mat = [2:5; 1 4 11 3]


mat =
2 3 4 5
1 4 11 3
>> mat(1,:) = 1:4
mat =
1 2 3 4
1 4 11 3
>> mat(:,3) = [4;3]
mat =
1 2 4 4
1 4 3 3

16) Generate a 2 x 4 matrix variable mat. Verify that the number of elements is equal to
the product of the number of rows and columns.

>> mat = randi(20,2,4)


mat =
1 19 17 9
13 15 20 16
>> [r c] = size(mat);
>> numel(mat) == r * c
ans =
1

17) Which would you normally use for a matrix: length or size? Why?

Definitely size, because it tells you both the number of


rows and columns.

18) When would you use length vs. size for a vector?

If you want to know the number of elements, you’d use


length. If you want to figure out whether it’s a row or
column vector, you’d use size.

19) Generate a 2 x 3 matrix of random


• real numbers, each in the range (0, 1)
• real numbers, each in the range (0, 5)
• integers, each in the inclusive range from 10 to 50

>> rand(2,3)
ans =
0.5208 0.5251 0.1665
0.1182 0.1673 0.2944

>> rand(2,3)*5
ans =
1.9468 2.3153 4.6954
0.8526 2.9769 3.2779

>> randi([10, 50], 2, 3)


ans =
16 20 39
12 17 27

20) Create a variable rows that is a random integer in the inclusive range from 1 to 5.
Create a variable cols that is a random integer in the inclusive range from 1 to 5.
Create a matrix of all zeros with the dimensions given by the values of rows and cols.

>> rows = randi([1,5])


rows =
3
>> cols = randi([1,5])
cols =
2
>> zeros(rows,cols)
ans =
0 0
0 0
0 0

21) Create a vector variable vec. Find as many expressions as you can that would
refer to the last element in the vector, without assuming that you know how many
elements it has (i.e., make your expressions general).

>> vec = 1:2:9


vec =
1 3 5 7 9
>> vec(end)
ans =
9
>> vec(numel(vec))
ans =
9
>> vec(length(vec))
ans =
9
>> v = fliplr(vec);
>> v(1)
ans =
9

22) Create a matrix variable mat. Find as many expressions as you can that would
refer to the last element in the matrix, without assuming that you know how many
elements or rows or columns it has (i.e., make your expressions general).

>> mat = [12:15; 6:-1:3]


mat =
12 13 14 15
6 5 4 3
>> mat(end,end)
ans =
3
>> mat(end)
ans =
3
>> [r c] = size(mat);
>> mat(r,c)
ans =
3
23) Create a 2 x 3 matrix variable mat. Pass this matrix variable to each of the following
functions and make sure you understand the result: flip, fliplr, flipud, and rot90. In
how many different ways can you reshape it?

>> mat = randi([1,20], 2,3)


mat =
16 5 8
15 18 1
>> flip(mat)
ans =
15 18 1
16 5 8
>>fliplr(mat)
ans =
8 5 16
1 18 15
>> flipud(mat)
ans =
15 18 1
16 5 8
>> rot90(mat)
ans =
8 1
5 18
16 15
>> rot90(rot90(mat))
ans =
1 18 15
8 5 16
>> reshape(mat,3,2)
ans =
16 18
15 8
5 1
>> reshape(mat,1,6)
ans =
16 15 5 18 8 1
>> reshape(mat,6,1)
ans =
16
15
5
18
8
1

24) What is the difference between fliplr(mat) and mat = fliplr(mat)?


The first stores the result in ans so mat is not changed; the second changes mat.

25) Fill in the following:

The function flip is equivalent to the function fliplr for a row vector.
The function flip is equivalent to the function flipud for a column vector.
The function flip is equivalent to the function flipud for a matrix.

26) Use reshape to reshape the row vector 1:4 into a 2x2 matrix; store this in a variable
named mat. Next, make 2x3 copies of mat using both repelem and repmat.

>> mat = reshape(1:4,2,2)


mat =
1 3
2 4
>> repelem(mat,2,3)
ans =
1 1 1 3 3 3
1 1 1 3 3 3
2 2 2 4 4 4
2 2 2 4 4 4
>> repmat(mat,2,3)
ans =
1 3 1 3 1 3
2 4 2 4 2 4
1 3 1 3 1 3
2 4 2 4 2 4

27) Create a 3 x 5 matrix of random real numbers. Delete the third row.

>> mat = rand(3,5)


mat =
0.5226 0.9797 0.8757 0.0118 0.2987
0.8801 0.2714 0.7373 0.8939 0.6614
0.1730 0.2523 0.1365 0.1991 0.2844

>> mat(3,:) = []
mat =
0.5226 0.9797 0.8757 0.0118 0.2987
0.8801 0.2714 0.7373 0.8939 0.6614

28) Given the matrix:


>> mat = randi([1 20], 3,5)
mat =
6 17 7 13 17
17 5 4 10 12
6 19 6 8 11
Why wouldn’t this work:

mat(2:3, 1:3) = ones(2)

Because the left and right sides are not the same dimensions.

29) Create a three-dimensional matrix with dimensions 2 x 4 x 3 in which the first


“layer” is all 0s, the second is all 1s and the third is all 5s. Use size to verify the
dimensions.

>> mat3d = zeros(2,4,3);


>> mat3d(:,:,2) = 1;
>> mat3d(:,:,3) = 5;
>> mat3d
mat3d(:,:,1) =
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
mat3d(:,:,2) =
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
mat3d(:,:,3) =
5 5 5 5
5 5 5 5
>> size(mat3d)
ans =
2 4 3

30) Create a vector x which consists of 20 equally spaced points in the range from – to
+. Create a y vector which is sin(x).

>> x = linspace(-pi,pi,20);
>> y = sin(x);

31) Create a 3 x 5 matrix of random integers, each in the inclusive range from -5 to 5.
Get the sign of every element.

>> mat = randi([-5,5], 3,5)


mat =
5 4 1 -1 -5
4 4 -1 -3 0
5 -2 1 0 4
>> sign(mat)
ans =
1 1 1 -1 -1
1 1 -1 -1 0
1 -1 1 0 1

32) Find the sum 2+4+6+8+10 using sum and the colon operator.

>> sum(2:2:10)
ans =
30

33) Find the sum of the first n terms of the harmonic series where n is an integer
variable greater than one.
1 1 1 1
1 + + + + +…
2 3 4 5

>> n = 4;
>> sum(1./(1:n))
ans =
2.0833

34) Find the following sum by first creating vectors for the numerators and
denominators:

3 5 7 9
+ + +
1 2 3 4

>> num = 3:2:9


num =
3 5 7 9
>> denom = 1:4
denom =
1 2 3 4
>> fracs = num ./ denom
fracs =
3.0000 2.5000 2.3333 2.2500
>> sum(fracs)
ans =
10.0833

35) Create a matrix and find the product of each row and column using prod.

>> mat = randi([1, 30], 2,3)


mat =
11 24 16
5 10 5

>> prod(mat)
ans =
55 240 80

>> prod(mat,2)
ans =
4224
250

36) Create a 1 x 6 vector of random integers, each in the inclusive range from 1 to 20.
Use built-in functions to find the minimum and maximum values in the vector. Also
create a vector of cumulative sums using cumsum.

>> vec = randi([1,20], 1,6)


vec =
12 20 10 17 15 10
>> min(vec)
ans =
10
>> max(vec)
ans =
20
>> cvec = cumsum(vec)
cvec =
12 32 42 59 74 84

37) Write a relational expression for a vector variable that will verify that the last value in
a vector created by cumsum is the same as the result returned by sum.

>> vec = 2:3:17


vec =
2 5 8 11 14 17
>> cv = cumsum(vec)
cv =
2 7 15 26 40 57
>> sum(vec) == cv(end)
ans =
1

38) Create a vector of five random integers, each in the inclusive range from -10 to 10.
Perform each of the following:

• subtract 3 from each element


• count how many are positive
• get the cumulative minimum

>> vec = randi([-10, 10], 1,5)


vec =
1 8 3 -7 7
>> vec - 3
ans =
-2 5 0 -10 4
>> sum(vec>0)
ans =
4
>> cummin(vec)
ans =
1 1 1 -7 -7

39) Create a 3 x 5 matrix. Perform each of the following:

• Find the maximum value in each column.


• Find the maximum value in each row.
• Find the maximum value in the entire matrix.
• Find the cumulative maxima.

>> mat = randi([-10 10], 3,5)


mat =
1 -5 0 -2 10
2 1 1 6 -3
-6 10 -3 5 2
>> max(mat)
ans =
2 10 1 6 10
>> max(mat, [], 2)
ans =
10
6
10
>> max(mat')
ans =
10 6 10
>> max(max(mat))
ans =
10
>> cummax(mat)
ans =
1 -5 0 -2 10
2 1 1 6 10
2 10 1 6 10

40) Find two ways to create a 3 x 5 matrix of all 100s (Hint: use ones and zeros).

ones(3,5)*100
zeros(3,5)+100

41) Create variables for these two matrices:

A B
é 1 2 3 ùé
ê 2 4 1 ù
ú ê ú
ë 4 -1 6 û ë 1 3 0 û

Perform the following operations:


A + B
é3 6 4 ù
ê ú
ë5 2 6 û
A – B
é -1 -2 2 ù
ê ú
ë 3 -4 6 û
A .* B

é2 8 3 ù
ê ú
ë 4 -3 0 û

42) A vector v stores for several employees of the Green Fuel Cells Corporation their
hours worked one week followed for each by the hourly pay rate. For example, if the
variable stores
>> v
v =
33.0000 10.5000 40.0000 18.0000 20.0000 7.5000
that means the first employee worked 33 hours at $10.50 per hour, the second worked
40 hours at $18 an hour, and so on. Write code that will separate this into two vectors,
one that stores the hours worked and another that stores the hourly rates. Then, use
the array multiplication operator to create a vector, storing in the new vector the total
pay for every employee.

>> hours = v(1:2:length(v))


hours =
33 40 20

>> payrate = v(2:2:length(v))


payrate =
10.5000 18.0000 7.5000

>> totpay = hours .* payrate


totpay =
346.5000 720.0000 150.0000
43) Write code that would count how many elements in a matrix variable mat are
negative numbers. Create a matrix of random numbers, some positive and some
negative, first.

>> mat
mat =
1 -5 0 -2 10
2 1 1 6 -3
-6 10 -3 5 2
>> sum(sum(mat < 0))
ans =
5

44) A company is calibrating some measuring instrumentation and has measured the
radius and height of one cylinder 8 separate times; they are in vector variables r and h.
Find the volume from each trial, which is given by Πr2h. Also use logical indexing first to
make sure that all measurements were valid (> 0).

>> r = [5.499 5.498 5.5 5.5 5.52 5.51 5.5 5.48];


>> h = [11.1 11.12 11.09 11.11 11.11 11.1 11.08 11.11];

>> all(r>0 & h>0)


ans =
1
>> vol = pi * r.^2 .* h

45) For the following matrices A, B, and C:


2 1 3
1 4   3 2 5
A=   B = 1 5 6  C=  
3 2 3 6 0 4 1 2 

• Give the result of 3*A.

3 12
 
9 6 

• Give the result of A*C.


19 6 13
 
17 8 19

• Are there any other matrix multiplications that can be performed? If so, list them.
C*B

46) Create a row vector variable r that has 4 elements, and a column vector variable c
that has 4 elements. Perform r*c and c*r.

>> r = randi([1 10], 1, 4)


r =
3 8 2 9
>> c = randi([1 10], 4, 1)
c =
4
9
7
8
>> r*c
ans =
170
>> c*r
ans =
12 32 8 36
27 72 18 81
21 56 14 63
24 64 16 72

47) The matrix variable rainmat stores the total rainfall in inches for some districts for
the years 2014-2017. Each row has the rainfall amounts for a given district. For
example, if rainmat has the value:

>> rainmat
ans =
25 33 29 42
53 44 40 56
etc.

district 1 had 25 inches in 2014, 33 in 2015, etc. Write expression(s) that will find the
number of the district that had the highest total rainfall for the entire four year period.

>> rainmat = [25 33 29 42; 53 44 40 56];


>> large = max(max(rainmat))
large =
56
>> linind = find(rainmat== large)
linind =
8
>> floor(linind/4)
ans =
2

48) Generate a vector of 20 random integers, each in the range from 50 to 100. Create
a variable evens that stores all of the even numbers from the vector, and a variable
odds that stores the odd numbers.

>> nums = randi([50, 100], 1, 20);


>> evens = nums(rem(nums,2)==0);
>> odds = nums(rem(nums,2)~=0);

49) Assume that the function diff does not exist. Write your own expression(s) to
accomplish the same thing for a vector.

>> vec = [5 11 2 33 -4]


vec =
5 11 2 33 -4
>> v1 = vec(2:end);
>> v2 = vec(1:end-1);
>> v1-v2
ans =
6 -9 31 -37

50) Create a vector variable vec; it can have any length. Then, write assignment
statements that would store the first half of the vector in one variable and the second
half in another. Make sure that your assignment statements are general, and work
whether vec has an even or odd number of elements (Hint: use a rounding function
such as fix).

>> vec = 1:9;


>> fhalf = vec(1:fix(length(vec)/2))
fhalf =
1 2 3 4
>> shalf = vec(fix(length(vec)/2)+1:end)
shalf =
5 6 7 8 9
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readily dispose of the extra one. We must entice them on board,
therefore, and the instant they set foot on deck do thou see to it
that they are secured. Be careful, however, that they suffer no injury,
for I would get them across in good condition if possible."
"Aye, aye, sir," answered the other, who was mate of the ship. "If
you can toll 'em on board I'll handle them as they were unweaned
lambs. I'll warrant you they won't escape if once I get a grip on
them, slippery devils though they be."
When the canoe ran alongside the ship a few trinkets were tossed
into it as presents and in token of good-will. Then a ladder of rope
was lowered, and by signs our lads were invited to come on board.
They looked at each other doubtfully. "Is it safe to trust these white
men?" asked Nahma.
"To discover the secret of the thunder-sticks, and perhaps to obtain
one in exchange for our furs, is worth a risk," replied Tasquanto. As
he spoke he glanced longingly up to where the ship's captain, with a
leer on his face that passed for a reassuring smile, tempted them by
a lavish display of trade goods.
"Truly, it would be worth much," hesitated Nahma. "At the same
time, having once escaped from a prison, I have no desire to see the
inside of another."
"Then stay thou here while I go," said Tasquanto, whose desire to
wipe out his recent humiliation was so great as to overcome his
prudence. "The secret of the thunder-stick I must have even though
it cost me my life."
"Does my brother think so meanly of me as to believe that I would
let him face a danger alone while I remained in safety?" inquired
Nahma, reproachfully. "Let him go and I will follow close at his
heels; for whatever happens to one of us must happen to both."
So the canoe was made fast, the bundle of furs was attached to a
line let down for it, and Tasquanto began to climb the swaying
ladder while Nahma steadied it from below. As the former
disappeared over the ship's side the son of Longfeather followed
swiftly after him. Topping the high bulwarks, he glanced anxiously
down in search of his comrade, but Tasquanto was not to be seen. A
suspicion of foul play darted into his mind, but too late for him to act
upon it, for at the same instant he was seized by two pair of brawny
hands and dragged inboard.
Half an hour later the ship under full canvas was speeding merrily
down the bay with her jubilant crew bawling out the chorus of a
homeward-bound chantey.
CHAPTER XIX
SOLD AS A SLAVE

The distress and terror of our poor lads when they found themselves
flung into the horrible darkness of the ship's hold with its hatch
closed above them would have been pitiful had there been any
witnesses. But there was none, and for many weary hours they
seemed to have been imprisoned in mere wantonness only to be
forgotten as soon as the treacherous act had been accomplished.
Their sole comfort was that they were together; for, on being
dropped into the hold, Nahma found Tasquanto, stunned by the
magnitude of his misfortune, awaiting him.
For a time the two remained speechless, only holding to each other,
listening, and fearfully awaiting what next might happen. Although
they could see nothing there was much to hear, for the anchor was
being hove up, sails loosed and sheeted home, canvas was slatting,
yards were creaking, and all to the accompaniment of much hoarse
shouting and a continual tramping of heavy feet. But none of these
sounds conveyed to our captives the slightest idea of what was
taking place. After a while the ship began to heel until they believed
her to be capsizing, and that their last hour had come. Also they
heard a sound of rushing waters. A little later both were so utterly
prostrated by sea-sickness that whatever might happen no longer
concerned them.
In this wretched plight they lay for what seemed like many days, but
in reality only until the middle of the next forenoon, when, of a
sudden, the hatch above them was removed and they were blinded
by the flood of light that followed. Then men came to them and they
were driven on deck, where, dazed and weak with illness, they
staggered from side to side with the motion of the ship. Their
pitiable appearance was greeted by shouts of coarse mirth from the
crew, who found in it a vastly entertaining spectacle.
The captives were offered food, but refused it with loathing, though
they drank eagerly from a bucket of water placed beside them as
they sat on deck at the foremast's foot. After a while Nahma became
sufficiently revived by the fresh air to gaze about him with somewhat
of interest in his strange surroundings. Everything was marvellous
and incomprehensible. Even the bearded sailors in petticoats and
pigtails, which latter he took to be scalp-locks, were entirely different
from the French, who, until now, were the only white men he had
known. Nor could he comprehend a word of the barbarous language
in which they conversed. When he was tired of looking at them he
began to wonder in which direction lay the land, and to turn over in
his mind a plan for making a quick rush to the ship's side, leaping
overboard, and swimming to shore.
Before broaching this scheme to his comrade Nahma decided to get
his bearings. So he gained his feet and mounted a scuttle-butt, by
which his eyes were lifted above the level of the high bulwarks. To
his consternation there was no land in sight. Not so much as a tree
nor a blue hill-top could he discover in any direction. His
unaccustomed eyes could not even distinguish the line of the horizon
dividing a gray sky from the immensity of gray waters that stretched
away on all sides. The bewildering sight filled him with a dread
greater than any he had ever known, and he slipped back to his
place beside Tasquanto, utterly hopeless.
"Whether we be going up or down I know not," he said to the latter;
"but certain it is that we now float among the clouds, with no
prospect of ever again returning to the earth on which dwell people
after our own kind. Already are we become Okis."
"Then is it a most unhappy condition," answered Tasquanto, "and
the medicine-men are liars."
After a few hours on deck our lads were again driven into the
darkness and foulness of the hold; but on every pleasant day
thereafter for weeks was the process of bringing them on deck for
an airing repeated. In times of storm they were kept below, with
their sufferings immeasurably increased by sickness, by the violent
pitching of the ship, by lack of food and water, and by terrors of the
creakings and groanings that filled the surrounding blackness.
For more than a month did they thus suffer, hopeless of ever again
sighting land or of any relief from their unhappy situation. Then, to
Nahma at least, came the worst of all. One day, while they were on
deck, he suddenly lifted his head and sniffed the air.
"It is a breath of earth," he whispered, as though fearful of uttering
the glad news aloud. "I can smell it. Oh, my brother! to once more
gain the freedom of a forest would be a happiness exceeding any
other. Let us be ready on the morrow when we are again brought
into the light. It may be that we shall be near enough to swim to the
land. Once within cover of the forest we would never again look
upon the face of a white man."
About this time they were sent below, but that faint scent of land
not yet distinguished by any other on the ship had infused them with
a new hope, and for hours they talked of what might be done on the
morrow.
In the mean time their ship was so near the English coast that
twenty-four hours later she lay at anchor in the harbor of Plymouth
and her small boat was ready to go ashore.
"Fetch me the heathen desired by Sir Ferdinando," ordered Captain
Dermer.
"Which one, sir?"
"Either will do. Call them up and take the first that shows a head.
Drive the other back, and keep him below until my return."
"Aye, aye, sir."
So the hatch was partially removed, and the signal for which our
lads had waited so impatiently was given. Tasquanto was first to
answer it and gain the deck. Nahma followed closely, but was met
by a blow that tumbled him back into the hold. Then the hatch was
replaced, and he was once more confronted by the horrors of
solitary confinement.
For a time he continued to hope that he would be allowed on deck,
or that his comrade would be restored to him; but, as the weary
hours dragged slowly by without either of these things happening,
these hopes grew fainter and fainter until finally they vanished.
When food and water were brought to him, he drank of the latter
but refused to eat, although the food was fresh meat, the first he
had seen since the dreadful day when he had been enticed aboard
the ship. It was another proof that they were once more near land.
Perhaps even now the forest for which he longed was close at hand,
and perhaps people of his own race were come off to trade. Perhaps
Tasquanto, who had picked up a number of English words, was
acting as interpreter for them. In that case he would doubtless find a
chance for escape, though even if he should, Nahma was certain
that he would not make use of it. Were they not brothers, sworn to
share each other's fortunes, good or ill, to the end? No! Tasquanto
would never desert him; but sooner or later, if he were still alive,
would come again to him. Of this our lad was certain.
After a while the lonely prisoner fell asleep, and when he next awoke
the ship was again in motion. He felt about for his companion, but
could not find him; he called aloud, but got no answer. Then he
knew that he was indeed alone in the world and that something
terrible must have happened to Tasquanto. When next he was
allowed on deck he looked eagerly for his friend, and, seeing nothing
of him, relapsed into a condition of apathy. He no longer cared what
happened, and refused to eat the food offered him.
"Won't eat, eh?" growled Captain Dermer, on learning of this state of
affairs. "We'll see about that."
The grizzled old mariner's method of seeing about things was so
effective that the refractory young Indian shortly found himself
pinned to the deck by two sailors. A third pinched his nose, and
when he opened his mouth for breath poured in hot soup that the
victim was obliged to swallow to keep from choking. So he was fed
by force, and his strength was sustained until the ship once more
came to anchor.
As usual, Nahma was confined below when this happened, and
when he was next brought on deck he was given no time to look
about him before being seized, stripped of the foul garments that he
had worn during the voyage, and scrubbed from head to foot,
roughly but thoroughly. Then he was provided with a new suit of
buckskin that had been acquired by trade from the Abenakis. He was
also given colors and a mirror and ordered to paint his face. Showing
symptoms of disobedience, he was made to understand that one of
the crew would do it for him; and, rather than be thus disfigured, he
reluctantly complied. After he had satisfactorily decorated himself,
greatly to the amusement of the crew, he was left to his own
devices and allowed to wander about the deck as he pleased.
Gaining a position where he could see beyond the ship's side, he
was as amazed and bewildered as though he had been transported
to another planet, for the vessel had ascended the Thames, and his
outlook was upon London.
Not a tree was to be seen, not a green thing, only houses, until it
seemed as though the whole world must be covered with them.
Even the river disappeared beneath houses built in a double row on
a bridge that spanned it a short distance away. The ship was moored
beside a great dingy building, from and into which men came and
went as thickly as bees swarming about a hollow tree in his native
woods.
Although no such clouds of smoke hung above London then as infold
it to-day, there was enough to impress our young savage with the
belief that a forest fire must be raging just beyond the buildings that
obstructed his view. This belief was strengthened by the ceaseless
roar of the city, that, to him, held the same elements of terror as the
awful voice of a wide-spread conflagration.
If Tasquanto were only with him that they might discuss these
things. But, alas! he was alone, as unfitted for a life-struggle amid
those heretofore undreamed-of surroundings as a newborn babe,
and, like it, unprovided with a language understandable by those
about him. Set down in the heart of a primeval forest he would have
been perfectly at home; but face to face with this hideous wilderness
of human construction he was appalled at his own insignificance and
utter helplessness.
As he turned away terror-stricken he noticed that several persons
gathered about Captain Dermer were regarding him curiously. One
of them, a young man of about Nahma's own age, apparently
touched by the hopeless expression on our lad's painted face,
stepped towards him with outstretched hand.
"Winslow," he said, pointing to himself.
"Massasoit," answered the other, promptly, and indicating his own
person.
Although he could not understand the newcomer's words he
appreciated the hearty grip of his hand, and, gazing into his honest
eyes, felt that here was one who might become a friend.
"What are you going to do with him?" inquired Winslow, stepping
back beside Captain Dermer.
"Let him go when he can pay his passage-money, or turn him over
to the first person who will pay it for him," was the reply.
"What is the sum?"
"Twenty pounds, no more nor less."
"I have not that amount with me, but if you will give me a day or
two I think I can get it. Will you keep him until I come again?"
"Unless some other turns up in the mean time equally desirous of
accommodating him."
"Captain, I vill pay the money on the spot," exclaimed a voice, and
wheeling about, Winslow saw a man of sporty aspect arrayed in
tawdry imitation of a gentleman, and of a decidedly Hebraic cast of
countenance. He was extending a handful of gold pieces, which
Captain Dermer took and counted.
"It is a trade," he said. "Take him and may luck go with you."
Thus was sold, in the city of London, a free-born native American;
and he was but one of many New World people who shared a similar
fate both before and afterwards.
CHAPTER XX
ONE FRIENDLY FACE

The man who on pretence of paying Nahma's passage-money had in


reality bought him was a well-known London fur-dealer, who had
visited the ship to appraise her cargo. The young fellow who had
extended to our forlorn lad the hand of friendship, and who, but for
lack of ready means, would have redeemed him from a threatened
slavery, was a Mr. Edward Winslow. He was the youngest son of a
well-to-do Devon family, who had taken a degree at Oxford and was
now reading law in the Temple. He was intensely interested in
America and everything pertaining to it. Thus, on hearing that a ship
just arrived from the New World was in the Thames, he hastened to
board her, that he might converse with those who had so recently
trod the shores he longed to visit. Nahma was the first American he
had ever seen, and he regarded him with a lively curiosity that was
changed to pity at sight of his hopeless face. Now he turned fiercely
on the Jew who by payment of a paltry sum of money had become
master of the young stranger's fate.
"What do you intend to do with him?" he asked.
"Vat vould you have done mit him yourself had your purse been as
full as your stomach?" asked the other, impudently.
"I would have found for him a home in which he might be taught
Christianity and civilization, and then I would have taken the first
opportunity for sending him back to his own land."
"Mayhap those be the very things I also vould do by the young
heathen; who knows?" replied the furrier, with a leer. "At any rate, I
have charge of him now, and vill take him at once to my happy
home. You may set him ashore for me, captain."
"Not I," responded Captain Dermer. "I have no longer aught to do
with him. Take him ashore yourself."
Thus confronted with his new responsibility, the man approached
Nahma and, seizing him roughly by an arm, said, "Come mit me,
heathen."
With a quick motion the young Indian wrenched himself free and
faced his new master with so fierce a look that the latter
involuntarily quailed beneath it and stepped back.
"Ah!" he snarled, "that's your game, is it? Ve'll see who comes out
best."
With this he called to some men of his employ who were hoisting
out bales of furs and bade them come to him, bringing a stout cord.
"Hold!" cried Winslow, stepping beside the young Indian. "See you
not that he is desperate, and that if you try to bind him there will be
bloodshed? He will surely kill you, if he dies for it the next moment.
Leave him to me and I will guarantee to take him where you may
desire, only I give you warning to treat him decently and without
violence."
Thus saying the speaker held out his hand to Nahma, and by signs
intimated that he was to accompany him.
By instinct the young American had recognized this youth as a
friend, and now he unhesitatingly left the ship in his company.
As a mob would have been attracted by the appearance of an
American Indian in the crowded streets, a covered cart belonging to
the furrier was procured, and in it our lad was driven to a rear
entrance of his master's shop, which fronted on a fashionable
thoroughfare, while the others reached the same place on foot.
During that bewildering ride Nahma sat with stolid face but with
keen eyes, taking in all the marvellous details of his surroundings.
Next to the throngs of people hurrying to and fro along the narrow,
crooked, and ill-paved streets, the appearance of horses most
impressed him, for never had he seen beasts at once so large and so
completely under the control of man.
No word passed between Winslow and the furrier until their
destination was reached. Then the latter asked, sneeringly,—
"Now, me lud, vat vill your 'ighness do next?"
"I will go inside and see him disposed," replied the young man,
calmly.
"Oh, vell, come in and view the royal apartments," said the other,
willing to have Winslow continue his responsibility until the new
acquisition was safely housed.
So the young Indian was taken from the cart and led into the shop,
causing a buzz of excitement among the few who saw him climbing
a narrow back stairway. He was finally guided to a small chamber
directly beneath the roof and lighted by a single window that could
not be opened. Had it not been for Winslow's reassuring presence,
Nahma would have refused to ascend those stairs, which, being the
first he had ever encountered, filled him with dismay.
After Winslow had seen the stranger in whom he took so great an
interest thus safely placed for the present and the furrier had locked
the door on his captive, the two descended again to the shop.
"What will you now do with him?" asked the former.
"It may be I vill train him to my business and send him out to
America as a fur-buyer," answered the other. "Maybe I vill keep him
as a curiosity. I have not yet decided; but vatever I do is no concern
of yours."
"Will you sell him to me?"
"Maybe so ven I see your money."
With this Winslow was forced to be content, and he departed with
the hope of redeeming his newly made friend and of carrying out his
vaguely formed intentions concerning him. Although twenty pounds
was not a large sum, it would embarrass him to procure it, since his
family, though well-to-do, were not people of wealth, and he was
living on a monthly allowance so small as barely to support him in
gentility.
In the mean time Nahma, left to his own melancholy company,
gazed from his window over the roofs and chimney-pots of London,
feeling that no greater evils could possibly befall him, and yet
wondering vaguely what would happen next. Food was brought to
him and water, but no change in his situation took place until the
following morning.
Then his master appeared accompanied by a coarse-featured man of
evident strength, whom the furrier had engaged to be keeper of his
new treasure. By them the young Indian was taken down to the
shop, where a small platform had been prepared for him. It was
covered and surrounded with costly furs, and here Nahma was
seated with a fur robe draped across his shoulders. Close at hand
stood his keeper to see that he neither escaped nor did injury to any
about him. With the tableau arranged, a stout 'prentice lad took a
stand just outside the street entrance and cried in lusty tones the
novel attraction to be seen within.
"Step this way, lords and ladies. Come all ye gentlefolk, attend the
reception of his Highness, a native American cannibal prince just
arrived from the New World. Look within! Look within! Under the
sign of the Ermine Royal sits he. Free of charge are all gentlefolk
invited to meet him. This way, lords and ladies. Look within!"
To this novel reception none but the well-dressed and evidently well-
to-do were admitted, since the poor could not be expected to
purchase furs then any more than now. And there would have been
no room for them in the limited space of the dingy little shop even
had they been admitted, for ere long it was crowded with
fashionable folk eager to be entertained by a novelty, while their
retainers filled the street. The spectators stared at Nahma and
listened with credulous ears to the marvellous tales told concerning
him by the furrier, who, clad in gorgeous raiment, acted the parts of
host and showman. Also many of them purchased furs, which was
more to the purpose. Never had the Ermine Royal done such a
business, and never had its proprietor greater reason to be satisfied
with a venture.
Amid all came Edward Winslow with his twenty pounds, which he
proffered to the Jew in return for Nahma's release. But the latter
laughed him to scorn.
"For twenty pund did you think to get him, me lud? Nay, that was
the price I paid, as you vell know, and I must at least double my
money. Forty pund is my lowest offer, and fifty if he continues to
attract trade as at present. Speech mit him? I have no objection,
only have a care that you seek not to seduce him from my service,
or a thing might happen not to your liking."
Keenly disappointed at this result of his undertaking, the young man
pushed his way through the crowd until he stood close to the
platform, when he called, softly,—
"Massasoit."
Instantly a glad light flashed into the eyes of the dejected figure
thus set up for a show, and, turning eagerly in that direction, he
exclaimed,—
"Winslow."
Then the two friends clasped hands, and Winslow managed to
convey the information that he would come again on the morrow.
He kept his promise; and, though he had not succeeded in securing
the money necessary to redeem the young Indian, his visit brought
much comfort. For many days thereafter he came regularly, often
bringing some little thing that he thought might give pleasure; and
these daily glimpses of a friendly face were the only rays of light
penetrating the unhappy darkness of Nahma's captivity. He was
never allowed to leave the building, and was only marched to and
fro up and down those weary stairs between the den in which he
lived and the hated platform on which he was exhibited to gaping
customers.
At the end of three weeks Winslow, having received his month's
allowance and so raised the necessary forty pounds, tendered it to
the fur-dealer for the release of his slave, only to be told that the
price had again been doubled.
Upon this the young man flew into a rage and there was an
exchange of bitter words, that ended in Winslow being told to mind
his own affairs and not attempt an interference with those that did
not concern him. As several 'prentice lads had gathered near during
this quarrel and stood eagerly awaiting their master's permission to
pounce upon the stranger, he realized the weakness of his position,
and prudently ended the affair by withdrawing from the scene. At
the same time he was as determined as ever to effect Nahma's
deliverance, and that speedily.
For this purpose he invited a number of the more reckless of his
Temple companions to a dinner, at which he told the story of
Massasoit and enlisted their sympathies in his behalf. Then he
proposed a rescue, to which they enthusiastically agreed.
According to this plan they were to meet near the furrier's shop at
the busiest hour of the second day from then, each man wearing his
sword, and prepared to use it if necessary. There they were to
mingle with the sight-seers and resist any attempts at interference
with the movements of Winslow. The latter undertook to spirit the
young Indian out of the same rear entrance through which he had
first been brought, into an unfrequented alley, while one of his
friends should for a moment distract the attention of the keeper.
To perfect the details of this scheme and provide a safe retreat for
him whom they proposed to rescue occupied two days, and then all
was in readiness. At this point the would-be rescuers were
confronted by an unforeseen and insurmountable obstacle. The
young Indian had disappeared. He was no longer an inmate of the
furrier's shop, and no one could or would give the slightest
information concerning him.
CHAPTER XXI
A CHANGE OF MASTERS

For some days Nahma's master had been uneasy about him. Close
confinement, lack of exercise and fresh air, and a hopeless
melancholy were so telling upon the captive that his health was
seriously affected. He was thin and miserable, had no appetite, and
suffered from a hacking cough. These things troubled the fur-dealer,
not because of his humanity, for he had none, but because of a
prospect of losing the money he had invested in this bit of perishable
property. He was also alarmed by Winslow's interest in the young
Indian, and feared the very thing that the former had planned.
Then, too, one of his gentleman customers had suggested that when
the fact of an American prince being in London came to the king's
ears he would probably order him to be brought to the palace. In
that case, as the furrier well knew, he would never be recompensed
for his outlay, since King James was not given to spending
unnecessary money, and he might even be called to account for
holding a royal personage in captivity. He wished now that he had
not described his Indian as a prince; and, all things considered,
decided that the sooner he got rid of him the better off he would be.
It happened that while he was in this frame of mind he was visited
by a travelling mountebank, whose business was to exhibit freaks
and curiosities of whatsoever kind he could obtain, at country fairs.
Having heard of the fur-dealer's Indian, he went to see him, and was
so impressed with his value as an attraction that he promptly offered
ten pounds for him.
"Already haf I refused forty," replied the furrier.
"It was doubtless offered when he was in condition. Now, as any
one may see, he is on the verge of a quick decline and is like to die
on your hands. It would be a risk to take him at any price, and it will
cost a pretty penny to restore him to health, without which he is of
no more value than a mangy dog."
"But I haf advanced twenty pund for his passage-money, and haf
been at the expense of his keep ever since."
"A cost that has been repaid a thousand-fold by the advertisement
he has given your wares. But to insure you against loss, which I well
know a Jew hates worse than death itself, I will give twenty pounds
for the varlet, sick and scrawny though he be. What say you? Is it a
bargain?"
"Hand over the price and he is yours."
Of course the subject of this barter was not consulted concerning it.
Nor did he know anything of the change about to come over his life
until darkness had fallen. Then, as he lay on his bed of musty straw,
dreaming of the free forest life that was once his, he was startled by
the entrance into his room of two men, one of whom bore a rush-
light. In him Nahma recognized his hated keeper, but the other was
a stranger.
"Come," said the former, gruffly; and, glad of any break in the
deadly monotony of his life, Nahma obediently followed him, while
the other brought up the rear.
Down-stairs they went and out into the darkness of the streets,
where each of the men grasped him by an arm as though fearful
that he might attempt an escape. The young Indian smiled bitterly
as he realized this, for nothing was further from his thought. In all
that wilderness of houses he had but one friend, and he knew no
more where to look for Winslow than he would if the latter were
dead. To him all other white men represented cruelty and injustice,
therefore nothing was to be gained by escaping from those who held
him. He would only fall into the clutches of others against whom he
would be equally powerless. So he went along quietly and with
apparent willingness, somewhat to the surprise of his new master.
"I fail to note but that he goes readily enough," he remarked.
"Methought you said he was vicious and like to prove troublesome."
"Oh, he's quiet enough now," replied the other, "but wait and see.
They're as treacherous, these Hammerican savages, as cats. Purr till
they see a good chance and then scratch. If they draw life's blood
they're all the more pleased. I knows 'em, for I've had experience,
and my word! but you've got to watch 'em every minute."
It was by such representations that the keeper hoped to induce the
showman to continue him in his present easy position. Now he
wished that his charge would make some aggressive exhibition
merely to demonstrate the necessity for his own presence. He slyly
pinched the prisoner's arm until it was ready to bleed, with the hope
of at least causing him to cry out; but Nahma endured the pain with
all the stoicism of his race and gave no sign.
Thus they proceeded through a weary labyrinth of foul streets, only
lighted at long intervals by flaring torches borne by retainers of well-
to-do pedestrians, until finally they turned into the yard of a
rambling tavern that stood on the outskirts of the town. It was a
famous resort for wagoners who transported goods to and from all
parts of the kingdom, and its court was now crowded with
ponderous vehicles and their lading.
Here Nahma was thrust for safe-keeping into an outhouse, the air of
which was close and foul, and its door was barred behind him. To
our unhappy lad it seemed as if the whole remainder of his life was
to be marked only by a succession of imprisonments, each more
dismal than its predecessor. In Quebec he had had Tasquanto's
companionship and an open window. On shipboard he had been
given the same comrade and a daily outing. In the furrier's
establishment he had had a window and an occasional hand-clasp
from Winslow; but here he was alone, in absolute darkness, and
gasping for a breath of fresh air.
The wretched night finally came to an end, and with the first gray of
morning his new master appeared, bringing an armful of coarse
clothing, soiled and worn. Stripping Nahma of his buckskin suit, he
compelled him to don these ill-fitting garments, and then left him a
platter of bones for his breakfast.
A little later they were on the road, and, to his amazement, Nahma
found himself leading a bear. It was a big brown bear, and its whole
head was enclosed in a stout muzzle; but, in spite of this, our young
Indian, who had never heard of a tame bear, felt anything but
comfortable at finding himself in such company unarmed. Besides
himself and the bear, the party was made up of the showman, a
cadaverous youth answering to the name of "Blink," who afterwards
proved to be a contortionist, and a heavily laden pack-horse. To
Nahma's relief, the big man who had acted as his keeper was no
longer of the company.
For a time our lad was so taken up with his bear and the discomforts
of his unaccustomed clothing that he paid but slight attention to his
surroundings. Then, all of a sudden, he uttered a cry of amazed
delight, for they were entering a forest. No longer were houses to be
seen, no longer was the horrid din of the city to be heard. Once
more was he beneath green trees, with the songs of birds ringing in
his ears and the smell of the woods in his nostrils. He drew in long
breaths of the scented air, and a new light came into his eyes.
Having found a forest, might he not also hope to discover people of
his own kind? If there were forests in this strange land and bears,
why should there not also be Indians? At any rate, he would keep a
sharp watch, and if he should see any, how quickly he would take
leave of his present companions and join them!
That night they lay at an inn, where an iron shackle was locked
about one of Nahma's ankles, and, with the bear, he was chained up
in a stable. On the following day they reached a straggling country
town in which a fair was to be held and where they were to give an
exhibition. Here they pitched a tent. Nahma's suit of buckskin was
restored to him, and he was again made to paint his face.
In this first exhibition he had nothing to do but stand and be stared
at by curious rustics, but after this he was taught and encouraged to
perform a number of acts in company with the bear. One of these
was to shoot, with bow and arrow, an apple, or some other small
object, from the animal's head. Then they would wrestle together,
and finally a sort of a dance was arranged for them, in which Blink,
made up as a clown for the occasion, also took part. Thus the show
became so unique and popular that its proprietor coined more
money than any other on the road.
But with prosperity came an evil more terrible even than adversity;
for, with money to spend, the showman began to squander it in
gambling and drinking until it was a rare thing for him to draw a
sober breath. He became quarrelsome with his intimates and brutal
to those in his power. His poor bear was beaten and tortured to
make it learn new tricks until it became a snarling, morose beast,
influenced only by fear, and dangerous to all except the young
Indian, who was its fellow-sufferer. He, too, was abused, starved,
beaten, and in all ways maltreated for not learning faster and
pouring more money into his master's bottomless pockets.
One day, while Nahma and the bear were wearily performing their
antics before a crowd of gaping yokels in the market-place of a small
shire town in the west, the youth's attention was drawn to a child
who was uttering shrill cries of pleasure. She was a dainty little thing
with flaxen hair and blue eyes, exquisitely dressed, and was in
charge of a maid. They had come from a coach that was drawn up
before a shop near by, and the throng had opened to make way for
them until they stood in the very front rank.
Suddenly the child, in an ecstasy of delight, pulled away from her
nurse and ran forward with the evident intention of caressing the
bear as though he had been a big dog. The brute was so tired,
hungry, and cross that Nahma had with difficulty kept him to his
work. Now, with a snarl and a fierce gleam in his small bloodshot
eyes, he raised a threatening paw as though to sweep away the little
fluttering thing that came running so confidently towards him.
A great cry rose from the crowd. The maid, so terrified as to be
incapable of motion, screamed and covered her face with her hands;
but Nahma, darting forward, snatched the child from under the
descending paw. So narrow was the escape that his left arm was
torn from shoulder to elbow by the cruel claws, and he staggered
beneath the blow.
The showman, who had been passing his cap among the spectators,
ran to the bear and, beating him over the head with a stout cudgel,
drove him to his quarters in a near-by stable. Part of the populace
cheered Nahma, while others demanded the death of the bear, and
amid all the confusion came the mother of the little girl, frantic with
terror. To her our lad delivered the child, frightened but unharmed.
Then, without waiting to be rewarded, or even thanked, he ran to
look after his friend the bear.
CHAPTER XXII
NAHMA AND THE BEAR RUN AWAY

Nahma found the showman and Blink engaged in a violent dispute


over the bear. The former was insisting that Blink should escape,
with the animal, from the rear of the stable and lead it to a place of
concealment on the outskirts of the village, where he would join
them later. In the mean time he would divert the attention of the
mob until the escape could be made. Blink, who was not on friendly
terms with the bear, was refusing on the ground that, with the
animal in its present temper, his life would not be worth a moment's
purchase.
"Then let the heathen take him, and do you go along to see that
they do not give us the slip," exclaimed the man, as Nahma
appeared and a howl from the mob announced their approach. Their
interest had been distracted for a minute while they watched the
lady with the frightened child in her arms regain her coach, which
was immediately driven away. Now they were ready to settle with
the bear, and turned towards the stable in which he had taken
refuge. As they drew near the showman, who, though a brute, was
no coward, appeared in its open doorway and confronted them.
"Good my masters," he cried, "what seek you?"
"Thy bear!" roared a dozen voices. "Bring forth thy bear that we may
bait him. He is not fit to live, and must be slain."
Again the showman attempted to speak, but his voice was drowned
in the bedlam of cries raised by the mob; and, losing control of his
temper, he shook his cudgel defiantly at them. Upon this a shower of
stones was hurled at him, and one of them striking him on the head,
he staggered and fell. At this the mob halted, and some even
sneaked away, fearful of consequences. The village barber, who was
also its surgeon, bustled forward to make an examination of the
wounded man. He was conscious, but in spite of, or possibly on
account of, copious bloodletting, which was the only remedy
administered, he died a few hours later.
So completely was public attention distracted by this tragic event,
that for a time no thought was given to the original cause of the
disturbance, and, finally, when search was made for the bear, he
was nowhere to be seen. Not until the following day was any trace
discovered of those who had been in the showman's company. Then
the one known as "Blink" was found on the edge of a wood,
helplessly bound and half dead from a night of cold and terror. He
could only tell that, having escaped with the bear and the heathen,
the latter had suddenly set upon him without warning or provocation
and reduced him to the condition in which he was discovered. What
had become of them or whither they had gone he knew not, nor did
he care. He only hoped he would never again set eyes on the savage
monsters who were so unfit for Christian company.
In the mean time Nahma and his companions had found no difficulty
in leaving the village unnoticed, since all public attention was for the
moment drawn in the opposite direction. Thus they successfully
gained the woodland that had been appointed by the showman as a
place of rendezvous. Here the young American suddenly realized
that only Blink stood between him and the freedom for which he
longed. Up to this time he had been shackled at night and so closely
watched by day that no chance of escape had offered. Now one had
come, and so quick was our lad to take advantage of it that within a
minute the unsuspecting Blink was lying helplessly bound hand and
foot with his own kerchief and a sash that formed part of his
professional costume. Thus was he left, while Nahma and the bear,
whom the former now regarded as his sole friend in all the world,
plunged into the forest depths and disappeared.
The England of that long-ago date was a very different country from
the England of to-day, and its entire population hardly exceeded two
millions of souls. Its few cities were small, and connected by
highways so abominable that travellers frequently lost their way
while trying to follow them. Not more than one-quarter of the arable
lands were under cultivation, while the remainder was covered with
dark forests and great fens, marshes, and desolate moors across
which one might journey for a day without sight of human
habitation. Game of all kinds abounded, and its hunting formed the
chief recreation of the gentry and of those nobles who left London
during a portion of the year to dwell on their estates.
Thus our young Indian, upon gaining his freedom, found himself
amid surroundings at once familiar and congenial. He had with him
the bow and arrows used in his recent exhibitions, a fire-bag
containing flint, steel, and tinder, and a dirk that had been taken
from Blink. Thus provided he had no anxiety on the score of
maintaining himself comfortably. He realized that the bear was an
encumbrance, but in his present loneliness he was loath to part from
it. And so the two pushed on together until they had penetrated
several miles into the forest, when darkness overtook them.
Then Nahma made a fire beside a small stream and cooked a rabbit
he had shot an hour earlier, while the bear nosed about for acorns,
grubs, and edible roots.
They continued to traverse the forest on the following day, keeping
to the same general direction until our lad was satisfied that he was
beyond danger from pursuit, when he began to look about for a
supper and a camping-place. Both of these came at the same time,
for on discovering, successfully stalking, and finally killing a deer, he
found that the animal had been drinking from a spring of clear
water, beside which he determined to establish his camp. Further
than this he had no plans. It was enough for the present that he was
free, in the forest that he loved, and beyond all knowledge of the
white man whom he hated. Here, then, he would abide for a time,
or until he should discover people of his own kind, for he was still
impressed with the belief that others like himself must inhabit those
game-filled forests.
That night both he and the bear, to whom he talked as though it
were a human being, ate to their satisfaction of deer meat, and
Nahma lay down to sleep beside his shaggy friend, happier than he
had been at any time since leaving his native land.
The next morning he was early astir and ready to begin work on the
lodge that he proposed to construct. By mid-day he had the poles of
the frame cut, set in the ground, arched over until they met, and
fastened in position. Then he went in quest of proper material for a
thatch or covering. The bear, having spent the morning in feeding,
was left behind, chained to a small tree and fast asleep.
While searching for the material he wanted Nahma struck the fresh
trail of a deer, which after a long chase he overtook and killed. As he
was returning with the hide and haunches on his back he was
startled by a baying of hounds, which changed as he listened to a
snarling, growling, and yelping that indicated a battle royal. From
the nature and direction of these sounds our lad realized that trouble
of some kind had come to the bear, and, without a thought of
danger to himself, he ran to the assistance of his comrade. Reaching
the scene, he found the bear, though sadly hampered by his chain,
making a gallant fight against a pack of boar-hounds that had come
across him while ranging the forest. They were fierce, gaunt
creatures, and although two of their number, already knocked out,
were lying to one side feebly licking their wounds, it was evident
that the chained bear was overmatched and must speedily be
dragged down. Flinging away his burden and drawing his dirk,
Nahma rushed forward and sprang into the thick of the fray, uttering
the fierce war-cry of the Iroquois as he did so.
For a few minutes there was a furious and indiscriminate mingling of
bear, dogs, and man, then of a sudden the young Indian was seized
from behind, dragged backward, and flung to the ground by one of
two men clad in the green dress of foresters, who had just arrived
on the scene. While Nahma's assailant hastily but securely fastened
the lad's arms so as to render him harmless, the other ranger ended
the battle, still raging, by thrusting a keen-bladed boar-spear
through the bear's body. It pierced the animal's heart, and he sank
with a sobbing groan.
"A fair sorrowful bit o' wark this, Jean," remarked the man who had
killed the bear, as he examined the several dogs. "Fower dead; two
killed by yon brute and two by the dirk of this wastrel. All the rest
gouged, cut, and bit up. But he'll answer for it smartly when once Sir
Amory claps eyes on him, the thievin', murthren gypsy poacher."
"Yes, I reckon he'll sweat fine," replied the other, with a grin; "but
did iver thou see bear chained afore?"
"Noa, niver. Lucky thing 'twas, though. But come on whoam. Bring
Poacher with 'e, and we'll send pack-horse for bear. No use looking
furder for pigs this day."
So poor Nahma, once more bereft of his freedom and of the dumb
brute whom he regarded as his only friend, his garments rent and
his body bleeding from a dozen wounds, was marched away
between the two stout rangers, while after them trooped the dogs.
Sir Amory Effingham, a knight in high favor at court, was lord of that
region, and being devoted to the chase, he spent several months of
each year at Garnet Hall, the ivy-covered forest castle in which his
family had been cradled for generations. It lay a league from the
scene of Nahma's capture, and by the time he was brought within
sight of its battlemented towers the short day was closing and night
was at hand.
While one of the rangers kennelled the dogs and looked after their
wounds, the other thrust Nahma, with his hurts still unattended, into
an empty store-room, locked its door, and went to make report of
what had taken place.
"A gypsy, eh? A poacher, caught red-handed, and a dog-killer, is he?"
quoth Sir Amory, angrily. "Hanging will be too good for him. He
should be drawn and quartered as an example to all of his kidney,
and I will deal with his case in the morning. Look well to him, then,
see that he escapes not, and bring him to me in the great hall after
the breaking of fast."
"Yes, Sir Amory."
"And, Jean, send for that bear and have his pelt taken before the
body stiffens."
"Yes, Sir Amory."
"Also, Jean, give both the dogs and the prisoner a good feed of
bear's meat."
So all was done as directed; only Nahma, realizing the nature of the
food thrown to him some hours later, refused to eat of it.
CHAPTER XXIII
AN HONORED GUEST

On the following morning, after the lord of the manor, his family, and
all his retainers had partaken of their rude but abundant breakfast,
and washed it down with copious draughts of ale, which at that time
took the place of coffee or tea, Sir Amory ordered the prisoner of the
preceding evening to be brought before him. The dining-tables,
which were merely boards laid on trestles, were cleared away, and
the great hall was made ready to serve as a court of justice.
Witnesses were summoned, and spectators gathered, until but few
of the knight's following were absent. Squires, pages, men-at-arms,
grooms, foresters, and under-servants, all filled with an eager
curiosity, flocked to the scene of trial; for the case in hand was of so
serious a nature that its resulting punishment would be certain to
afford vast entertainment.
In those days the killing of a deer by any person beneath the rank of
a gentleman was a capital offence; while the killing of a hunting dog
by one of the peasant class ranked as a crime so abominable as to
merit the severest penalty. For either of these things the offender
might be hanged, whipped to death, or executed in any other fitting
manner, at the discretion of the judge. He might not be beheaded,
as that form of punishment was reserved for offences against the
state, committed by persons of rank. Neither might he be burned,
since the stake was only for witches and victims of religious
persecution. If the lord of the manor were inclined to be merciful,
the deer-stealer or dog-killer might be given his life, and escape with
some such slight punishment as having his ears cropped or a hand
chopped off; but in the present case it was universally agreed that
the crime was of a nature to demand the severest possible
punishment. Thus, when the prisoner appeared, he was regarded
with eager curiosity as one who promised to furnish a spectacle of
uncommon interest.
Friendless, wounded, ragged, half starved, and utterly ignorant of
the situation confronting him, the son of Longfeather was led the
whole length of the great hall to the dais at its upper end, on which
sat the master of his fate. As he was halted, Sir Amory exclaimed,—
"On my soul, as scurvy a knave as ever I set eyes upon. I knew not
that even a gypsy could present so foul an aspect. What is thy name
and condition, sirrah?"
Not understanding what was said, Nahma made no answer. Only,
recalling the teaching of his own people, he stared his questioner full
in the face with a mien that, in spite of his sorry plight, was quite as
haughty as that of the knight himself.
"A contumacious varlet and insolent," remarked Sir Amory, "but it is
possible that we may find means to lower his pride. Let the ranger
named Jem stand forth and relate his tale of the occurrence
concerning which this investigation is made."
So Jem told his story, and it was corroborated by the other forester.
Also were the dead hounds introduced as evidence, together with
the dirk that Nahma had used so effectively.
"What hast thou to say in thy own behalf, scoundrel?" asked the
knight, turning again to the prisoner after all this testimony against
him had been submitted.
Still there was no answer, but only an unflinching gaze and a proudly
uplifted head.
"Think you the creature is dumb?" inquired the puzzled magistrate.
"No, Sir Amory," replied one of the foresters, "of a surety he is not,
for we heard him call loudly to the bear, and at sound of his voice
the beast made violent effort to break his chain that he might get to
him."
"Chain?" quoth the knight. "This is the first mention I have heard of
any chain. What mean you? Was the bear indeed chained?"
"Chained and muzzled was he," admitted the ranger, "else it had
gone more hardly with the dogs than happened."
"Chained and muzzled," repeated the knight, reflectively, and casting
a searching gaze upon the prisoner. "Still, it may be only a
coincidence." With this he gave an order in a low tone to a page
who stood at hand, and the boy darted away.
"Saw you trace of other gypsies at or near that place?" asked the
knight, continuing his examination of the forester.
"No, Sir Amory. That is, we saw no humans, but there was a booth
partly built close at hand."
"What is the material of the prisoner's dress?"
"Deer-skin, Sir Amory, nothing less."
At this moment a tapestry was drawn aside, and a lady, appearing
on the dais, stood beside her husband with a look of inquiry. She
was followed by one bearing in her arms a child, at sight of which
the prisoner was surprised into a momentary start as of recognition.
"My dear," said Sir Amory, "will you favor us by glancing at yonder
gypsy and telling if ever you have set eyes on him before?"
The lady looked in the direction indicated, but shook her head. Ere
she could speak, however, the maid, who had followed her gaze,
uttered a cry, and exclaimed,—
"It is the very one, my lady. The youth, I mean, who danced with
that dreadful bear and saved the life of my little mistress."
"Yes," said the lady, slowly. "I did not recognize him on the moment;
but now me-thinks he is the same from whose hands I received my
child, safe and unharmed, though blood-bespattered. But, Amory,
what is he doing here? A prisoner and under guard! Surely——"
"It is all a mistake," cried the knight, rising to his feet in great
agitation. "He is not a prisoner, but an honored guest. Nor is he
under guard, but under the protection of one who owes to him a life
dearer than his own. Gentlemen, the hearing is dismissed; the
prisoner is honorably acquitted, and will hereafter be known as my
friend, if indeed he can forgive the cruel wrong I meditated against
him. Away, ye varlets. Bring food and wine. Fetch warm water and
clean napery, salve and liniments. Body o' me! The youth is
wounded and hath had no attention. He looks ready to drop with
weakness. Draw a settle for him beside the fire. Fetch——"
But the servants were already flying in every direction in their efforts
to minister to the evident needs of him whose position had
undergone so sudden a transformation.
At the same time Nahma himself was even more bewildered by the
good fortune that was overwhelming him than ever by the hard fate
that had for so long been his constant attendant.
Somewhat later the lady who, with her companions, had withdrawn,
came again to the hall, and stepping to where she could obtain a
good view of the youth, looked at him steadily for the space of a
minute. He, in the mean time, had been bathed and fed, his wounds
had been dressed, and he wore a body-gown from the knight's own
wardrobe that gave him an air of grace and dignity.
"He is no gypsy, Sir Amory," said the lady, finally, withdrawing her
gaze and turning to her husband.
"I myself am beginning to doubt if he belongs to those nomads,"
replied the knight. "But if not a gypsy, to what race can he lay claim,
with that tinge of color and with hair of such raven blackness?"
"Dost remember the tale told us in London by my cousin Edward
concerning an arrival from the New World in whom he had taken an
interest?"
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