THE INDIAN WOMAN S DEATH. 823 



looking, — no doubt, in consequence of their uniform 

 diet of fish, to which I had now however brought a 

 most welcome change in the shape of a large case of 

 pemmican. The tale we had heard of the Indian 

 woman was true. After parting with us on the day 

 when we had given her and others some fish, she had 

 arrived on the shore of Bear Lake, about four miles 

 from the hut, and encamped there with several other 

 Indians for about three weeks : during this time she 

 became very ill, and, being unable to accompany her 

 friends, was deserted by them — her father and brothers 

 among the rest, the latter telling her that they left 

 her there to die. Some of the women who had been 

 encamped with her, had been employed to net snow- 

 shoes for my party, and the Indian boy going over to 

 fetch some which had been left, found the poor 

 creature, wdth her two little ones, alone, without either 

 fire or food. Le Canard, alias the Cannibal, was 

 immediately despatched to help her over to the hut, 

 and was obliged to drag her across the lake on his 

 snow-shoes, as she was perfectly helpless. The party 

 then built her a small lodge, and did all in their 

 power to help her ; they cut wood for her fire and 

 prepared her food, using a case of concentrated gravy- 

 soup which I had always reserved for an occasion of 

 illness of any of the party. Their cares, however, 



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