Part 19 (1/2)

Encouraged by the words of Lucien, the party entered aone only a few paces, when a shout from Norman caused the rest to look to hiht Had he seen any? No; but soratified him certainly, for his voice and manner expressed it

”What is it?” inquired the others, all speaking at the same time

”_Tripe de roche_!” answered he

”_Tripe de roche_?”

”Yes,” replied Norman, ”look there!” and he pointed to one of the rocks directly ahead of the forward to it The others hastened up after On reaching the rock, they sahat Norman had meant by the words _tripe de roche_ (rock-tripe) It was a black, hard, crumply substance, that nearly covered the surface of the rock, and was evidently of a vegetable nature Lucien knehat it was as well as Norman, and joy had expressed itself upon his pale cheeks at the sight

As for Basil and Francois they only stood waiting an explanation, and wondering what value a quantity of ”rock moss,” as they deemed it, could be to persons in their condition

Lucien soon informed them that it was not a ”moss,” but a ”lichen,” and of that celebrated species which will sustain human life It was the _Gyrophora_ Norman confirmed Lucien's statement, and furthermore affirmed, that not only the Indians and Esquieurs, had often subsisted upon it for days, when they would otherwise have starved There are many species,--not less than five or six All of them possess nutritive properties, but only one is a palatable food--the _Gyrophora vellea_ of botanists Unfortunately this was not the sort which our voyageurs had happened upon, as it grows only upon rocks shaded by woods, and is rarely met with in the open barrens

The one, however, which Norlad at finding even that

The first thing to be thought of was to collect it, and all four set to peeling and scraping it fro Here a new difficulty stared them in the face The _tripe de roche_ had to be boiled,--it could not be eaten else,--and where was the fire? where was the wood to make one? Not a stick was to be seen They had notall that day's journey!

They were now as badly off as ever The _tripe de roche_ would be of no rass What could they do with it?

In the e--Marengo's sledge That would ht do to cook a single oing to object to the arrangee But a few hours before, it cao himself He was not aware of that, perhaps, but no e must be broken up, and converted into firewood

They were about taking it to pieces, and had already ”unhitched”

Marengo from it, when Basil, who had walked to the other side of the rocky jumble, cried back to thereat distance Out of these a fire could be e, therefore, was let alone for the present Basil and Francois immediately started for the hile Norman and Lucien remained upon the spot to prepare the ”tripe” for the pot

In a short tie bundles of s, and the fire was kindled The _tripe de roche_, with some snow--for there was no water near--was put into the pot, and the latter hung over the blaze

After boiling for nearly an hour, the lichen becaum in more snow, or more of the ”tripe,” as it seemed to require it The pot was then taken froreedily ate of its contents

It was far fro palatable, and had a clao; but none of the party was in any way either dainty or fastidious just at that time, and they soon consumed all that had been cooked It did not satisfy the appetite, though it filled the stomach, and made their situation less painful to bear

Norman informed them that it was much better when cooked with a little meat, so as to make broth This Norman's companions could easily credit, but where was the meat to come fro with the roe of fish, or when boiled in fish liquor

Our weary voyageurs resolved to reht at least; and with this intent they put up their little tent They did not kindle any fire, as the ere scarce, and there would be barely enough to s of the rock-tripe They spread their skins within the tent, and creeping in, kept one another as war

CHAPTER xxx

THE POLAR HARE AND GREAT SNOWY OWL

Of course hunger kept the late They were up and out of the tent by an early hour Their fire was re-kindled, and they werepreparations for a fresh pot of rock-tripe, when they were startled by the note of a well-known bird On looking up, they beheld seated upon the point of a rock the creature itself, which was the ”cinereous crow,” or, as it is better known, the ”whiskey Jack” The latter naeurs, on account of the resemblance of its Indian appellation, ”whiskae-shaw-neesh” to the words ”whiskey John” Although sometimes called the ”cinereous crow,” the bird is a true jay

It is one of the rey colour, and not particularly graceful in its fore, moreover, does not consist of webbed feathers, but rather more resembles hair; nor does its voice make up for the plainness of its appearance, as is the case with some birds On the contrary, the voice of ”whiskey Jack” is plaintive and squeaking, though he is so of a mocker in his way, and frequently imitates the notes of other birds He is one of those creatures that frequent the habitations of man, and there is not a fur post, or fort, in all the Hudson's Bay territory, where ”whiskey Jack” is not fa a favourite, however, as, like his near relative the reat thief, and will follow theupon a tree until the bait is set, and then pouncing down, and carrying it off He frequently pilfers small articles from the forts and encampments, and is so bold as to enter the tents, and seize food out of any vessel thatall this, he is a favourite with the traveller through these inhospitable regions No eur may make his camp, his tent will hardly be pitched, before he receives a visit from ”whiskey Jack,” who comes, of course, to pick up any cruion where all other wild creatures shun the society of man, endears him to the lonely traveller