UP THE GREAT RIVER 15

for which he sold his life. The window in the stern
projecting over the water was evidently standing
open in order to admit the soft September air, and
the Indian saw his chance. Into this window he
crept and from it started to make off with the
stolen goods; but the mate saw the thief, shot, and
killed him. Then all was a scene of wild confusion.
The savages scattered from the ship, some taking
to their canoes, some plunging into the river. The
small boat was sent in pursuit of the stolen goods,
which were soon recovered; but, as the boat re-
turned, a red hand reached up from the water to
upset it, whereupon the ship's cook, seizing a
sword, cut off the hand as it gripped the gunwale,
and the wretched owner sank never to reappear.

On the following day Hudson and his men came
into conflict with more than a hundred savages,
who let loose a flight of arrows. But one of the
ship's cannon was trained upon them, and one
shot followed by a discharge of musketry quickly
ended the battle. The mariners thereupon made
their way without molestation to the mouth of the
river, whence they put to sea on a day in early
October, only a month after their entrance into the
bay.

Hudson was destined never again to see the