82 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



always in the rear, to his infinite diversion. 

 The Indians are vain of their local know- 

 ledge, which is certainly very wonderful. 

 Our companions had taken out the entrails 

 and young of the moose, which they buried 

 in the snow. 



The Indians then returned to the tents, 

 and one of my men accompanied them ; he 

 was the person charged with the manage- 

 ment of the trade at the hunting tent ; and 

 he observed, that the opportunity ^ of 

 making a bargain with the Indians, while 

 they were drinking, was too advantageous 

 to be lost. 



It remained for us to prevent the wolves 

 from mangling the moose ; for which pur- 

 pose we wrapped ourselves in blankets 

 between its feet, and placed the hatchets 

 within our reach. The night was stormy, 

 and apprehension kept me long awake ; but 

 finding my companion in so deep a sleep 

 that nothing could have roused him except 

 the actual gripe of a wolf, I thought it ad- 

 visable to imitate his example, as much as 

 was in my power, rather than bear the bur- 



