136 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



walked a Frencli lialf-breed, of very Indian appear- 

 ance. He sat down and smoked, and talked for an 

 hour or two, stating that he was out trapping, and 

 his lodge and family were about five miles distant. 

 In due time Cheadle produced some pemmican 

 for supper, when the visitor fully justified the 

 sobriquet which he bore of Mahay gun, or " The 

 Wolf," by eating most voraciously. He then men- 

 tioned that he had not tasted food for two days. He 

 had visited our hut the day before, lit a fire, melted 

 some snow in the kettle, and waited for a long time, 

 in the hope that some one might come in. At last 

 he went away, without touching the pemmican which 

 lay upon the table ready to his hand. The story 

 was, doubtless, perfectly true, agreeing with all the 

 signs previously observed, and the fact that the 

 pemmican was uncut. 



With the pangs of hunger gnawing at his stomach, 

 and viewing, no doubt, with longing eyes the food 

 around, he had yet, according to Indian etiquette, 

 refi:*ained from clamouring at once for food, but sat 

 and smoked for a long time, without making the 

 slightest allusion to his starving condition. When, 

 in due course, his host offered him something to eat, 

 he mentioned the wants of himself and family. The 

 next day he left, carrying with him supplies for his 

 squaw. He was exceedingly grateful for the assist- 

 ance, and promised to return in a day with his wife, 

 who should wash and mend all our clothes, as some 

 acknowledgment of the kindness. 



Cheadle, being now somewhat recovered from 



