cousins commenced
cutting off such stems as were still young and tender. As soon as they
had obtained enough, they took their way back to the camp. Basil had
already arrived with a fine _prairie hen (Tetrao cupido_) which he had
shot, and Norman had brought back a squirrel; so that, with Francois's
fish, of which a sufficient number had been caught, Lucien was likely to
be able to keep his promise about the dinner.

Francois, however, could not yet comprehend how the soup was to be
boiled in a wooden pot; and, indeed, Basil was unable to guess. Norman,
however, knew well enough, for he had travelled through the country of
the Assinoboil Indians, who take their name from this very thing. He
had also witnessed the operation performed by Crees, Chippewas, and even
voyageurs, where metal or earthen pots could not be obtained.

On the next day the mystery was cleared up to Basil and Francois.
Lucien first collected a number of stones--about as large as
paving-stones. He chose such as were hard and smooth. These he flung
into the cinders, where they soon became red-hot. The water and meat
were now put into the bark pot, and then one stone after another,--each
being taken out as it got cooled,--until the water came to a fierce
boil. The rice and other ingredients were added at the proper time, and
in a short while an excellent soup was made. So much, then, for the
soup, and the boiled dishes with vegetables. The roast, of course, was
easily made ready upon green-wood spits, and the "game" was cooked in a
similar way. The fish were broiled upon the red cinders, and eaten, as
is usual, after the soup. There were no puddings or pies, though, no
doubt, Lucien could have made such had they been wanted. In their place
there was an excellent service of fruit. There were strawberries and
raspberries, one sort of which found wild in this region is of a most
delicious flavour. There were gooseberries and currants; but the most
delicious fruit, and that which Francois liked best, was a small berry
of a dark blue colour, not unlike the huckleberry, but much sweeter and
of higher flavour. It grows on a low bush or shrub with ovate leaves;
and this bush when it blossoms is so covered with beautiful white
flowers, that neither leaves nor branches can be seen. There are no
less than four varieties of it known, two of which attain to the height
of twenty feet or more. The French Canadians call it "le poire," but in
most par