174 SPORT m NORTH AMERICA. 



mail of ice. Whilst the captain and m3'self fished 

 in the river, the Red Skins were cutting the wood 

 required to keep up the fire during the night. 

 A large boiler containing salt pork, peas, and 

 biscuit was soon boiling over the fire, and by the 

 side was a huge pot of tea which emitted the 

 most agreeable odours. The inside of the hut was 

 thoroughly weU warmed, and our fur cloaks pro- 

 tected us perfectly from the cold which prevailed 

 outside. The Indians had manufactured some 

 torches of birch-bark, which looked picturesque 

 enough when stuck in the snow walls of our com- 

 fortable little cabin. We had a large leather bag 

 for our strong box, and in this we locked up our 

 money, watches, and stock of brandy, so as to avoid 

 exciting unnecessarily the cupidity of our guides. 

 We supped mainly upon fish. The trout were deli- 

 cious, and we enjoyed them all the more from our 

 inability to appreciate the primitive soup of the 

 Red Skins. Feeling our appetites somewhat excited, 

 we determined to make an attempt upon the tins of 

 preserved meats which we had brought with us. 

 Alas ! the failure was horrible. We opened twenty- 

 four boxes, filled with trufiied pheasant, partridge 

 pie, peas, beans, cauliflowers, Jullienne soup, gravy, 

 milk and cream — and the result was that we had 

 to throw them all out into the snow. We were well 

 punished for our epicurism. 



In order to render the dogs more eager after the 



