158 STORY OF 



build the hut in which she was found, to give her 

 shelter during the winter. 



From her account of the number of moons that 

 had passed since her escape, for that was her way 

 of reckoning time, it appeared that she had been 

 near seven months without seeing a human face ; 

 but during all that time she had supported herself 

 very well, by snaring partridges, rabbits, and 

 squirrels. 



The methods practised by this poor creature to 

 procure a subsistence were truly admirable. Five 

 or six inches of an iron hoop, made into a sort of 

 knife, and the iron head of an arrow, which 

 served her as an awl, were the only tools she had ; 

 but with these she had contrived to make herself 

 complete snow-shoes, and many other useful arti- 

 cles. When the few deers' sinews that she had 

 taken with her were all used, in making snares for 

 game, and sewing her clothes, she had nothing to 

 supply their place but the sinews of the rabbits' legs 

 and feet: but she twisted these together with great 

 dexterity into threads ; and the wild animals that 

 she caught not only supplied her with food, but 

 with a suit of warm clothing for the winter, which 

 she had made of their skins. 



It would scarcely be imagined, that a person in 

 her forlorn situation could be so composed, as to 

 contrive or execute anything that was not abso- 

 lutely necessary to existence ; but all her clothes, 



