CHAP. xv. INDIAN BEAR FEASTS. 241 



but poor Louis, who eagerly interpreted his friend's 

 narrative, was painfully affected. To use a common but- 

 expressive phrase, ' his mouth watered ; ' he wished he had 

 been there. It did not often happen to the lazy Louis 

 to be the invited guest to such a feast, and his diet during 

 the winter had been seals, which he said were very good, 

 yet not so good as bear. ' Nothing like bear fat bear 

 very fine.' 



c On which side of the lake did you hunt last winter ? ' 

 I enquired of Michel, who was surveying the country 

 from the summit of a knoll near Caribou Lake. Louis 

 had to repeat the question thrice before Michel answered, 

 and even then I saw him looking towards the east, 

 moving his hand gently up and down, and apparently 

 following some imaginary object. His face was particularly 

 bright and intelligent, and when he suddenly turned 

 round to Louis and pointed towards the north and north- 

 east, I was very much struck with the peculiar excited 

 expression of his face. 'What's the matter with Michel?' 

 I exclaimed. 



Louis made due enquiries ; but although Michel spoke 

 rapidly, and pointed in various directions, yet Louis 

 answered not. Arousing him, I said 



' What is he saying, Louis ? ' 



' Tell you soon ; wait a bit ; ' was the only reply I could 

 elicit. Louis now began to question Michel, and an. 

 animated conversation sprang up between them, in which 

 Michel made many references to the surrounding country, 

 and Louis listened with more than ordinary attention. At 

 last, with his face brighter than I ever observed it before, 



VOL. I. R 



