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Exercises
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.
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)
logspace(3,2000)
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.
11) Create two row vector variables. Concatenate them together to create a new row
vector variable.
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.
colvec = 1:3’
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.
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).
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.
17) Which would you normally use for a matrix: length or size? Why?
18) When would you use length vs. size for a vector?
>> 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
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.
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).
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).
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.
27) Create a 3 x 5 matrix of random real numbers. Delete the third row.
>> mat(3,:) = []
mat =
0.5226 0.9797 0.8757 0.0118 0.2987
0.8801 0.2714 0.7373 0.8939 0.6614
Because the left and right sides are not the same dimensions.
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.
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
35) Create a matrix and find the product of each row and column using prod.
>> 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.
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.
38) Create a vector of five random integers, each in the inclusive range from -10 to 10.
Perform each of the following:
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
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
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.
>> 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).
3 12
9 6
• 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.
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.
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.
49) Assume that the function diff does not exist. Write your own expression(s) to
accomplish the same thing for a vector.
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).
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
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
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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