I have
killed no wolf, I conclude the whole is a dream."

"Now, you talk rational, and are better, I am sure."

"I think I am, for I am hungry," said Sidney, pleasantly.

Sending Howe to watch by the couch, Jane began to consider what could
be procured among their limited resources that would be nourishing, and
yet harmless. Cooking utensils they had none. Their whole stock of
vessels consisted of the shells of wild gourds that grew abundantly in
the forest. Necessity often compels a resort to recipes in cooking not
laid down in all the editions of gastronomy. It did in this case, and
grateful was Jane that she had the shell of the gourd to prepare a meal
in for Sidney. Taking some smooth white stones from the bed of the
stream, she placed them in the fire, and then put the wings of a
partridge into a gourd half-full of water, and as soon as the stones in
the fire were at a red heat, one was taken up by running under it a
forked stick; the dust that adhered to it was blown away, when it was
dropped into the gourd, and in a short time the water was boiling. As
soon as it ceased, another stone was put in, and in a little while a
broth not unsavory, though so rudely cooked, was ready and eaten by him
with relish.

At sunset the chief returned from the forest, all traces of the recent
farce were gone from his face, on which rested the old expression of
pride and _hauteur_. He asked no questions, expressed no concern; after
eating a hearty supper, he threw himself on the ground by the
camp-fire, and was soon asleep.

From the first night that Sidney had been attacked by the wolf, up to
this time, not a night or a day had elapsed that some kind of wild
beast had not been seen prowling about them; though they kept up large
camp-fires, they were in fear of a whole pack making their descent upon
them, when they must all be devoured, in defending Sidney, or leave him
to fall a defenceless victim. They found, to their dismay, that they
were in a portion of the forest overrun by beasts, which no doubt,
looked upon them as trespassing on their rights; the dislike of which
proceedings they evinced, by threatening in plain enough language to be
understood by our wanderers, to eat them for their audacity. After
enduring these hints a week longer, during which time the beasts had
become so venturesome as to come in uncomfortable proximity to them,
they began to think the most prudent course would be to vacate the
neighbourhood as