store, which was certainly
more tempting than the meat just obtained. The eagle, which had been
skinned and cut up, formed part of the feast. The Indians, who were put
into good humour by the ample supply of food they had obtained so
unexpectedly after their long fast, laughed and joked, and assured us of
their friendship. Alick on this observed that we should prefer carrying
out our previous intentions, for we had still food enough left for our
journey; but the Cree chief had evidently made up his mind that we
should accompany him.

"I cannot permit you to encounter the risk you would run by making the
journey on foot," he answered. "If you will come with us, you shall
have horses, and perhaps some of our people will escort you."

All the arguments Alick could use were of no avail. We found that,
notwithstanding the fair speaking of the chief, we were in reality
prisoners. As the band had no spare horses, we each of us had to mount
behind a Cree; far from a pleasant position, as we had to hold on with
one hand, while we carried our guns in the other, and had also our packs
on our backs.

Bouncer followed, keeping at a respectful distance from the heels of the
horses, which showed a very unfriendly disposition to kick him when he
came near. We rode on for some distance to the south-east, when we came
in sight of the skin-covered tents forming a large Cree encampment. The
women rushed out to welcome their husbands and brothers, staring at us
and inquiring who we were.

The chief, who by-the-bye was called Picheto, having informed them, they
invited us into their tents. They had been busy collecting a quantity
of the mesaskatomina berry, which they were drying for a winter store.
They offered us some of the juicy fruit, which we found most refreshing,
after having gone so long without any vegetable diet. They then placed
before us pounded buffalo meat, with marrow fat, served up in birch-bark
dishes. We followed the plan of the Indians, which was to dip a piece
of the pounded meat into the soft marrow fat at each mouthful.

At night we were invited to lie down to rest around the fire which was
in the centre of the tent; but the heat and smoke, with the close air of
so many human beings crowded together, snoring loudly, after the fresh
atmosphere to which we had been accustomed, prevented us from sleeping
till near morning. At dawn, after a hasty breakfast of more buffalo
meat and marrow fat, washed down w