108 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 



captors without a word of complaint, and with the 

 stoical indifference to pain and suffering, which alike 

 characterises the haughty Delaware of the North and 

 the miserable stunted Digger of the deserts of the Far 

 West. On the morning of the fifth day, the party were 

 seated round a small fire of pinon, hardly able to rise 

 and commence their journey, the squaws squatting 

 over another at a little distance, when Forey commenced 

 again to suggest that, if nothing offered, they must either 

 take the alternative of starving to death, for they could 

 not hope to last another day, or have recourse to the 

 revolting extremity of sacrificing one of the party to 

 save the lives of all. To this, however, there was a 

 murmur of dissent, and it was finally resolved that all 

 should sally out and hunt ; for a deer-track had been 

 discovered near the camp, which, although it was not 

 a fresh one, proved that there must be game in the 

 vicinity. Weak and exhausted as they were, they took 

 their rifles and started for the neighbouring uplands, 

 each taking a different direction. 



It was nearly sunset when La Bonte returned to the 

 camp, where he already espied one of his companions 

 engaged in cooking something over the fire. Hurrying 

 to the spot, overjoyed with the anticipations of a feast, 

 he observed that the squaws were gone ; but, at the 

 same time, thought it was not improbable they had 

 escaped during their absence. Approaching the fire, 

 he observed Forey broiling some meat on the embers, 

 whilst at a little distance lay what he fancied was the 

 carcass of a deer. 



