We were then in a dangerous, helpless situation, exposed daily to perils and death amongst savages and wild beasts, not a white man in the country but ourselves.

In this situation I was constantly exposed to danger and death.

is dangerous and the perils are real.

The missionaries go forth to Christianize the savages - as if the savages weren't dangerous enough already.

Observe that anyone who dies for his country is a fortunate man, but death takes what it wants, indiscriminately, in peace-time as well as in war. It is better to die with freedom than without it.

They are stupid, they are beasts, they are meat, they are death. I am talking simply but without any affectation.