STRATAGEMS TO OBTAIN FOOD. 335 



surprised to find that the other man was dead, having 

 estimated at the last meeting that he would not live 

 ten days longer. 



"There was little rest for the kettle that night," 

 and next morning the Indian started off to return to 

 his brother, and stop him from drying the meat he 

 had. On the following morning Mr. P. departed also 

 for the camp, and when arrived soon recovered a 

 little strength. After .a fortnight's stay he returned 

 to the Fort and encamped opposite to it, as he had 

 now some meat to live upon ; but an old woman, whom 

 he had succoured on the road, arrived shortly after and 

 remained at the camp, so that there was not a 

 large share for each. Seven days after his arrival, 

 Mr. S. with three men came in ; two of these being- 

 Indians, returned to Fort Selkirk, the others with 

 Mr. P. starting next day for Port Halkett : having 

 only forty pounds of pemmican for the journey, 

 they had therefore to depend mainly upon their guns ; 

 they were fortunately all good shots, and wild fowl 

 were in abundance. 



Some of Mr. P.'s stratagems to obtain food during 

 the winter were sufficiently ingenious, for he had very 

 little shot, although powder enough. At one time 

 he looped a partridge with a long pole and a snare 

 (these birds are very tame in extreme cold) ; on 



