At last they bethought themselves of a plan. "It is needless to go to war upon him. What can we do to him with our arms! Let us make an immense large trap (of wood) and draw lots [for] which of us shall serve as bait. It is a dangerous assay indeed, but will any generous one amongst us refuse sacrificing his life for the safety of so many?" They made this trap on the opposite side of a small opening in the woods, so that he might see the person seated from afar. It was between large trees which were made to serve as _posts_. It was finished. An old woman stepped up and said, "My Grandchildren! I am now old and of no more account among ye. We are all in danger of being devoured by this insatiable and terrible beast Why should I then regret sacrificing a life that, at best I can now enjoy but only for a short time, seeing it will in the end be productive of so much good? _I will go and be bait_." The others were extremely touched at her generosity but they had no alternative, and circumstances admitted of no delay. The old lady seated herself very {45} composedly in the trap and awaited his arrival. The others fled off of course. It was time too, for he soon _hove_ into sight, stalking along in all the stile and terror of imperial grandeur. His head [was] equal with the tops of the highest trees, and the ground [was] shaking at every step, though frozen, it being then depth of winter. And his countenance denoted an assemblage of pity, contempt, rage and voraciousness. All this did not dismay the old lady; she remained quiet. He perceived her. "What! What, old woman, art thou doing there?" But changing his tone, which he did several times, thus continued, "Thou art of my natural enemies and I shall presently grind thee." "Ah! my grandchild! I am an old woman, abandoned and deserted by those whom I have suckled and brought up. They are fled off in dread of thee, and being old and helpless, they thrust me in this tuft of trees so as to be the less embarrassed. Come now and assist me out, and in acknowledgement I shall inform thee of their precautions. Otherwise thou'lt lose thy life by their deceptions." He was in no dread of the _Indians_, so far as regarded their _own_ power, but he thought a little salutary advice would not be amiss, intending after this to _grind_ the old _thing_ as he had promised himself. He drew up. "What a devil of a place they have put thee indeed. Did they think to conceal thee from me?"