The Home of the Wolverene and Beaver. 43 



young man ; woke from a peaceful slumber beside 

 his watch-fire on the Saskatchewan to find the 

 Blackfeet warriors bending over him, and the keen 

 knife of the chief about to encircle his temples. 

 The bitter frost prevented much bleeding, and 

 Andrew McClosky, after a fearful journey, reached 

 the settlements, and ultimately completely re- 

 covered, though his hair is adorning the belt of 

 the " Eagle's-ribs " or forming a carrotty fringe to 

 the chief's leggings. The other men in broadcloth 

 are the clerks, and the remainder of the company 

 consists of the guides and interpreters, all of whom 

 mess at one common table. And the board may 

 boast of plenty if it has not much variety ; there 

 seems no lack of salt pork, beef, ham, and venison 

 in the way of meat, or of Indian corn, potatoes, and 

 peas as a vegetable adjunct, while to wash down 

 the good cheer there is either tea or spirits, and 

 every man may take what he likes and as much as 

 he thinks fit, for restriction is unthought of The 

 language of the interpreters and guides is nearly 

 as perplexing as that of the canoe-men, but that it 

 is perfectly intelligible to most of the party is 

 apparent by the bursts of laughter with which 

 a story is received, told by a French half-breed 

 in a lingo that would puzzle Max Miiller and 

 tiie united wisdom of the Philological Society. 



