Sometimes he was left alone as the women went about their various avocations in the village, but he was so securely bound that to him as to them his escape appeared altogether impossible.

The day passed heavily and slowly.

The cloth had been removed from his mouth, but he was parched with thirst, while the tightly bound cords cut deeply into his flesh.
He had once asked for water, but his request had been answered with such jeers and mockery that he resolved to suffer silently until the last.

At length the darkness of the winter evening began to fall when a thought suddenly struck him.

On the hearth a fire was burning; he waited until the women had again left the hut.