A SERIOUS DISAPPOINTMENT. 237 



serted between the clefts of two sticks fastened into one 

 of the walls of snow ; and this dubious gleam of light gave 

 a picturesque and not uncomfortable aspect to our situa- 

 tion. 



A large leather bag was converted into a strong-box, 

 in which, that the cupidity of our guides might not be 

 excited, we deposited our money, our watches, and our 

 supply of brandy. 



Our supper consisted principally of fish : the troutis 

 were delicious ; and they appeared to us all the more 

 savoury because we were unable to appreciate the primi- 

 tive compound of the Redskins. We wished afterwards 

 to turn our attention in due succession to a roast joint, 

 or rather to one of the dishes borrowed from the bills of 

 fare of civilization, with which we had provided ourselves 

 for our journey. 



We therefore ordered Jack to open one of the tins of 

 preserved meat, which were lodged in a bag on one of the 

 sledges. He acquitted his task with due fidelity; but 

 scarcely had he placed the tin beneath our nostrils than 

 each of us experienced an irresistible nausea. The 

 truffle-stuffed pheasant was so thoroughly corrupted, that 

 he might have walked alone if he had dared. We pro- 

 ceeded to examine a second tin ; it was a partridge pate" : 

 it spread around us a most deleterious odour. Such 

 was the case with all the rest of the four-and-twenty 

 boxes, which were successively opened before us : green 

 peas, green haricots, cauliflowers, soup, julienne, con- 

 somme, milk, and cream ; all was so putrefied as to be un- 

 fit even for dogs. Our Indians made haste to throw the 

 whole into a ravine situated beyond gunshot, that the 

 evening breeze might not bring us the emanations of 



