206 AFRICAN ADVENTURE STORIES 



Lake region of northwestern Canada, and on 

 one occasion went sheep hunting with a band 

 of Cree Indian half-breeds. By their stupidity 

 the sheep saw us before we were within range 

 and made their escape. We took up the trail, 

 and after following it over two high mountains 

 I gave up the chase and started back to camp 

 with an Indian boy. 



While descending the mountain we shot a 

 half -grown marmot, or woodchuck, which, young 

 though it was, equalled in size our Eastern species. 

 As soon as we reached the timber, we halted, 

 built a fire, and roasted our prize, hide, fur, 

 and all. In half an hour there wasn't enough 

 left of that marmot to feed a sparrow. Let 

 me say that the only way to cook a wood- 

 chuck properly is to roast him whole on a stick 

 over a camp-fire, turning him from time to time 

 until he is well done. The skin keeps the fat 

 from broiling out, and enough sinks into the 

 flesh to make it tender and juicy. 



The Cree Indians are a hospitable race, even 

 to the point of robbing themselves of their last 

 mouthful of food; but it always seemed to me 

 that they expect far more in return than they 

 give. An Indian has no set meal- time; he eats 



