ROASTED MARMOT. 195 



living stove ; for the fuel, stored as fat, is slowly 

 burned up in the lungs, giving out heat just as 

 coal would in a fire-grate. Thus the rock- 

 whistler heeds not the chilly blasts that sweep 

 through gorge and glen, and so sleeps on safe 

 from harm, until Sol comes to set him free. 



The Redskin is the whistler's most implacable 

 enemy ; he never tires of hunting and trapping the 

 little animal, delighting to use his jacket in the 

 fabrication of rugs. The hair being thick, the 

 marmot-robe keeps out both wet and cold, and 

 stands an immense amount of wear and rough 

 usage. Much as the savage likes the coat of. his 

 captive, he likes his carcase even better. When 

 skinned a long peeled stick is thrust through the 

 body, from tail to head; then placed slantwise, 

 one end being fast in the ground, the treasured 

 morsel is slowly roasted over a gentle fire. 



I can bear testimony to the delicacy of roasted 

 marmot; it beats Ostend rabbit hollow; all 

 honour to the redskin's taste ! A dinner off a 

 roasted rock- whistler, washed down with a pull 

 at the crystal stream, is a repast not to be 

 despised. 



It would prove of little interest to the reader 

 to go again over the ground we have, I trust, 

 travelled pleasantly together. The Boundary line 



o 2 



