290 Thirty Years 



ing, brought in the antlers and back bone of a deer 

 which had been killed in the summer. The wolves 

 and birds of prey had picked them clean, but there 

 still remained a quantity of the spinal marrow which 

 they had not been able to extract. This, although 

 putrid, was esteemed a valuable prize, and the spine 

 being divided into portions, was distributed equally. 

 After eating the marrow, which was so acrid as to ex- 

 crociate the lips, we rendered the bones friable by burn- 

 ing, and ate them also. 



On the following morning the ground was covered 

 with snow to the depth of a foot and a half, and the 

 weather was very stormy. These circumstances ren- 

 dered the men again extremely despondent ; a settled 

 gloom hung over their countenances, and they refused 

 to pick tripe de roche, choosing rather to go entirely 

 without easing, than to make any exertion. The 

 party which went for gum returned early in the morn- 

 ing without having found any ; but St. Germain said 

 he could si ill make the canoe with the willows cover- 

 ed with the canvass, and removed with Adam to a 

 clump of willows for that purpose. Mr. Bacli accom- 

 panied them to stimulate his exertion, as we feared 

 the lowness of his spirits would cause him to be slow 

 in hi:, operatioi usl iifl went to fish at the rapid, 



but a Large trout having carried away his bait, we had 

 nothing t" replace it. 



