These roots I cut into small slices, and threw them in the boiling water.  It soon produced a dark green decoction, which I swallowed; it was evidently a powerful alkali, strongly impregnated with a flavour of turpentine.  I then cut my mocassin, for my foot was already swollen to twice its ordinary size, bathed the wounds with a few drops of the liquid, and, chewing some of the slices, I applied them as a poultice, and tied them on with my scarf and handkerchief.  I then put some more water to boil, and, half an hour afterwards, having drank another pint of the bitter decoction, I drew my blanket over me.  In a minute or less after the second draught, my brain whirled, and a strange dizziness overtook me, which was followed by a powerful perspiration, and soon afterwards all was blank.

The next morning I was awakened by my horse again licking me.  He wondered why I slept so late.  I felt my head ache dreadfully, and I perceived that the burning rays of the sun for the last two hours had been darting upon my uncovered face.  It was some time before I could collect my thoughts, and make out where I was.  At last the memory of the dreadful incident of the previous evening broke upon my mind, and I regretted I had not died during my unconsciousness; for I thought that the weakness I felt was an effect of the poison, and that I should have to undergo an awful lingering death.  Yet all around me, nature was smiling.  Thousands of birds were singing their morning concert, and, at a short distance, the low and soft murmuring of the stream reminded me of my excessive thirst.  Alas! well hath the Italian bard sung,—­

             “Nessun maggior dolore
     Che riccordarsi del tempo felice
     Nella miseria!”—­DANTE.

As I lay and reflected upon my utter helplessness, again my heart swelled and my tears flowed freely.  Thirst, however, gave me the courage which the freshness and beauty of nature had not been able to inspire me with.  I thought of attempting to rise to fetch some water; but first I slowly passed my hand down my thigh, to feel my knee.  I thought the inflammation would have rendered it as thick as my waist.  My hand was upon my knee, and so sudden was the shock that my heart ceased to beat.  Joy can be most painful; for I felt an acute pang through my breast, as from a blow of a dagger.  When I moved my finger across the cap of my knee, it was quite free from inflammation, and perfectly sound.  Again there was a reaction.  “Ay,” thought I, “’tis all on the ankle.  How can I escape?  Is not the poison a deadly one?” I dared not throw away the blanket and investigate further.  I felt weaker and weaker, and again covered my head to sleep.