mss142-vasilevShishmarev-i3-040

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rid of them. He took the boat hook from the longboat and
drew a deep line in the sand from one bank of the sandspit to
the other, 6 mumbling something in a low voice, and spitting
from time to time in the direction of our tents, near which
the Indians stood. As soon as they saw this maneuver, they
hastily dashed across the line and ran toward the settlement.
Only then, putting guards with loaded muskets and one falconet
on the line, were we able to give ourselves a much-needed rest,
however, without undressing despite the fact that we were all
soaked through. The night was very cold, and we waited im-
patiently for morning, especially when we saw that the wind
started to abate after midnight. Finally, despite the wetness
and the cold, and exhausted by the exertions and anxieties of
the day, we fell asleep toward morning; but our rest was not
long.

At dawn, the shouts of the guards woke us up, informing
us that armed savages were breaking across the line. Im-
mediately, with all possible speed, we removed everything to
the longboat, while those not busy with that task tried to
hold them back in a friendly manner. We found the last things
that we did not need, and used them for trade, but this had
unfortunate consequences. One of our sailors, giving an In-
dian his folding knife for four or five marten furs, wanted
to cut off the counted ones from the other, unpurchased skins,
but was so careless that he severely cut the finger of the
Indian holding the furs. The savage glared at him, retreated