288 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA YS 
CHAP. 
terrific. It appeared impossible. How could they 
be fed or housed ? The idea was stupefying. 
British lords! ladies! an addition of nine to our 
already large party of five, in a wilderness which 
produced nothing, except a store of canned vege¬ 
tables, and bacon! It may be imagined that our 
hostess was appalled, and for the moment prostrated 
by the announcement. 
A dead silence ensued ; during which a general 
determination was preparing to grapple with the 
difficulty. A dinner for British lords and ladies 
would necessitate soup, fish, entrees; some piece de 
resistance, game, sweets, and dessert. 
“We’ll manage it, if possible,” replied Mrs. 
Peters; “but we must all help. We must sweep 
out the entrance, and make a large table with some 
planks. With a nice clean table-cloth, who will 
know ? We can gather some wild flowers and 
coloured berries, and make a pretty decoration. 
We have soup in tins. Now we’ve got our table 
ready, and the soup. My husband and Mr. Alston 
have a net, and they must catch fish ; there are 
plenty in the river. We must kill a calf, and have 
veal cutlets, and a heap of dishes out of that. We 
must open some cans of vegetables ; tomatoes and 
cutlets will make a capital dish. Preserved pears 
and thick cream; stewed peaches; but we have 
no game.” I modestly suggested that I might 
ramble through the willows, and perhaps get some 
wild ducks. The idea was at once seized upon, and 
every member of the party set to work to carry out 
