240 A SALT LICK. 



spot. The place was, in fact, a Salt Lick one of those 

 provisions which Nature has made for the benefit of the 

 animal creation, in localities so far removed from the 

 influence of the ocean that no saline matter can be 

 accumulated in the air." 



" I dunno what them things ur," interrupted Jake ; 

 " but ef ye hev found a Salt Lick, I reckin we'll walk 

 into the deer fast enuff. They'll come thur in shoals 

 to lick the airth, an' I guess well make 'em smell thun- 

 der considerable. That we will." 



"There was one circumstance that struck me very 

 much," continued Pierre. " The animals seem often to 

 die after their indulgence in licking, for there were a 

 great many skeletons lying about the spot." 



"Don't ee go to bleeve any sich thing," said Jake. 

 " I hev seed Salt Licks in plenty, an' I niver knew the 

 critturs to die o' lickin' their fill. You bet this coon 

 will figure it out arter hevin' a squint at the location." 



" Well," said Gaultier, who had listened with much 

 interest to Pierre's account of his discovery, " as we 

 seem to have eaten enough, I vote we go and have a 

 look at Pierre's Lick. How far is it ?" 



" Not more than an hour's walk from here," replied 

 Pierre. 



The trappers accordingly took their rifles, and under 

 Pierre's guidance set out for the Salt Lick. As they 

 walked along, Jake suddenly asked at what time the 

 moon had risen the previous night. The young men 

 were unable to tell. 



