Hunting at High Altitudes 



watched the cook beginning the operations of the 

 meal. As time passed, the Indians talked pleas- 

 antly among themselves. They were evidently 

 hungry and were gratified at the prospect of break- 

 ing their fast. The various cooking operations 

 went on, the bread was baked and the fruit stewed, 

 and finally came the frying of the meat, which 

 would thus be steaming hot when served. 



Corey filled the frying-pan with thick slices of 

 elk and an abundance of bear lard, and from over 

 the fire an aroma grateful to a hungry man began 

 to rise. This odor soon attracted the attention of 

 the Indians, whose countenances, after some little 

 talk, seemed to express despair, a combination of 

 grief at the loss of their dinner and of dread of 

 some impending evil. As they talked they became 

 more and more excited, until at last they arose as 

 if to go away, and of this an explanation was 

 asked. With some difficulty and the help of many 

 signs, we were given to understand that the cause 

 of this change of feeling was the smell of the bear 

 lard. They could not dared not eat anything 

 cooked in bear's grease, and were about to go 

 away. They had detected the dreaded odor at 

 once. We explained to them that we knew nothing 

 of their belief, and if they would wait for a little 

 time, meat would be cooked for them uncontam- 



190 



