! On turning both over,
what was their astonishment to see that the talons of the bird were
firmly fixed in the back of the fish! It was the _female osprey_! This
explained all. She had struck a fish too heavy for her strength, and
being unable to clear her claws again, had been drawn under the water
and had perished along with her victim!

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

THE VOYAGE INTERRUPTED.

About ten days' rapid travelling down the Elk River brought our party
into the Athabasca Lake--sometimes called the "Lake of the Hills." This
is another of those great bodies of fresh water that lie between the
primitive rocks of the "Barren Grounds," and the more fertile limestone
deposit upon the west. It is nearly two hundred miles long from west to
east, and is only fifteen miles in breadth, but in some places it is so
narrow and full of islands that it looks more like a broad river than a
lake. Its shores and many of its islands are thickly wooded,
particularly upon the southern and western edges; and the eye of the
traveller is delighted with many a beautiful vista as he passes along.
But our voyageurs took little heed of these things. A gloom had come
over their spirits, for one of their party had taken ill, and was
suffering from a painful and dangerous disease--an intermittent fever.
It was Lucien--he that was beloved by all of them. He had been
complaining for several days--even while admiring the fair scenery of
the romantic Elk--but every day he had been getting worse, until, on
their arrival at the lake, he declared himself no longer able to travel.
It became necessary, therefore, to suspend their journey; and choosing
a place for their camp, they made arrangements to remain until Lucien
should recover. They built a small log-hut for the invalid, and did
everything to make him as comfortable as possible. The best skins were
spread for his couch; and cooling drinks were brewed for him from roots,
fruits, and berries, in the way he had already taught his companions to
prepare them. Every day Francois went forth with his gun, and returned
with a pair of young pigeons, or a wood-partridge, or a brace of the
beautiful ruffed grouse; and out of these he would make delicate soups,
which he was the better able to do as they had procured salt, pepper,
and other ingredients, at the Fort. They had also brought with them a
stock of tea--the real China tea--and sugar; and as the quantity of both
was but small, this lu