feel as if
my teeth were in it already."

We reached the platform, and Alick and I climbed to the top. What was
our dismay to find that not a particle of food remained on it. How
thankful we should have been to find a single ham or a few buffalo
steaks! but neither one nor the other gladdened our eyes. We had to
descend with the sad intelligence. We looked blankly at each other.

"What is to be done?" asked Martin.

"We must try and kill a moose where we killed them before," said Robin.

"We shall lose three days if we do, and perhaps not get one after all,"
observed Alick. "We cannot afford the time. We ought to get back at
the river, and try to make our way down it as soon as possible."

"But how are we to get along without food?" urged Martin.

"We must do our best to obtain it, and trust to Providence," said Alick.
"Though I managed to kill but one squirrel, we may possibly meet with
more animals on our return."

Notwithstanding what Alick said, I saw that he was very much
disappointed, as we all were, at not finding the meat, as we had
expected. We hunted about in every direction to ascertain whether the
robbers had left any small portions behind them, but none could we
discover.

We came to the conclusion that the thieves, whoever they were, had been
watching us and the Crees, and directly we had all left the cache, had
hurried up and rifled it.

Robin was of opinion that our friends had quitted their camp directly
after we set off, and that, as they must be now at a considerable
distance, it would be hopeless to try to overtake them.

"All we can do is to turn our faces once more to the north," said Alick.
"Come, boys, there is no use mourning over our disappointment. Let us
push ahead and keep our eyes about us. Perhaps we shall even now get
something for supper."

We followed his advice, and without another murmur we commenced our
march. We got over five or six miles before it grew dusk, when we
camped near a pool of fresh water, numbers of which are found in that
well-irrigated region.

While Martin and Robin were engaged in cutting wood for a fire, Alick
and I went out in different directions, in the hope, before it became
perfectly dark, of obtaining something to eat. I had gone some
distance, and as it was rapidly getting dusk, believing that it would be
useless to continue out longer, I was on my return, when I saw a small
animal, the character of which I could not make out, rapid