A HORRID DISCLOSURE. 331 



He went out, but could discover no trace of it ; and, 

 coming in, sat down by the fire, which was composed 

 of the boards of the house, the poor fellow being too 

 weak to cut up wood. He observed some bones in 

 the fireplace, and momentary suspicions of a frightful 

 nature crossed his mind, but these were speedily 

 dissipated by the remark made by the man, that these 

 were the bones of deer, &c., which had, in past time, 

 fallen through the chinks of the boards, and had been 

 picked up when the flooring was taken for firewood. 

 After cutting wood and fetching water enough to last 

 until he should return, Mr. P. went off, determining 

 again to seek his food rather than deprive his 

 companion of the remaining furs, and hoping that he 

 might perchance get through the season on them. He 

 repaired to the lodge of the Indian, who had been to the 

 Fort since the death of the other man, and on Mr. P. 

 expressing his wonder that the body was not to be 

 found, the Indian repUed, " Is it possible, my father, 

 that you do not know what has become of it ? did 

 you not see the bones in the fireplace ? " Mr. P. 

 replied, that the survivor had told him that those 

 were bones picked from under the floor. " My 

 father," was the answer, " I am an Indian, yet I know 

 that the live man has eaten the dead. Dcers' bones 

 I know, and the bones of all other beasts I know. 



