The Great Salt Trail | Page 8

slept, and remains of a wolf of which he had eaten. He had
evidently fared better than themselves at this encampment, for they had
not a mouthful to eat. The next day, about noon, they arrived at the
prairies where the headwaters of the stream appeared to form, and
where they expected to find buffalo in abundance. Not even a
superannuated bull was to be seen; the whole region was deserted.
They kept on for several miles farther, following the bank of the stream
and eagerly looking for beaver sign. Upon finding some they camped,
and Ben Jones set his trap. They were hardly settled in camp when they
perceived a large column of smoke rising in the clear air some distance
to the southwest. They regarded it joyously, for they hoped it might be
an Indian camp where they could get something to eat, as their pangs of
hunger had now overcome their dread of the terrible Blackfeet.
Le Clerc, one of the Canadians, was instantly despatched by Mr. Stuart
to reconnoitre; and the travellers sat up till a late hour, watching and
listening for his return, hoping he might bring them food. Midnight
arrived, but Le Clerc did not make his appearance, and they lay down
once more supperless to sleep, hoping that their old beaver-trap might
furnish them with a breakfast.
At daybreak they hastened, eager and famishing, to the trap, but found
in it only the forepaw of a beaver, the sight of which tantalized their
hunger and added to their dejection. They resumed their journey with
flagging spirits, but had not gone far when they perceived Le Clerc
approaching at a distance. They hastened to meet him, in hope of
tidings of good cheer. He had nothing to give them but news of that
strange wanderer, M'Lellan. The smoke had arisen from his
encampment which took fire while he was fishing at some little
distance from it. Le Clerc found him in a forlorn condition. His fishing
had been unsuccessful, and during twelve days that he had been
wandering alone through the savage mountains he had found scarcely
anything to eat. He had been ill, sick at heart, and still had pressed
forward; but now his strength and his stubbornness were exhausted. He

expressed his satisfaction that Mr. Stuart and his party were near, and
said he would wait at his camp for their arrival, hoping they would give
him something to eat, for without food he declared he should not be
able to go much farther.
When the party reached the place they found the poor fellow lying on a
bunch of withered grass, wasted to a skeleton, and so feeble that he
could scarcely raise his head or speak. The presence of his old
comrades seemed to revive him; but they had no food to give him, for
they themselves were almost starving. They urged him to rise and
accompany them, but he shook his head. It was all in vain, he said;
there was no prospect of their getting speedy relief, and without it he
would perish by the way; he might as well, therefore, stay and die
where he was. At length, after much persuasion, they got him upon his
legs; his rifle and other effects were shared among them, and he was
cheered and aided forward. In this way they proceeded for seventeen
miles, over a level plain of sand, until, seeing a few antelopes in the
distance, they camped on the margin of a small stream. All now, that
were capable of the exertion, turned out to hunt for a meal. Their efforts
were fruitless, and after dark they returned to their camp famished
almost to desperation.
As they were preparing for the third time to lie down to sleep without a
mouthful of food, Le Clerc, one of the Canadians, gaunt and wild with
hunger, approached Mr. Stuart with his gun in his hand. It was all in
vain, he said, to attempt to proceed any farther without food. They had
a barren plain before them, three or four days' journey in extent, on
which nothing was to be procured. They must all perish before they
could get to the end of it. It was better, therefore, that one should die to
save the rest. He proposed, therefore, that they should cast lots, adding,
as an inducement for Mr. Stuart to assent to the proposition, that he, as
leader of the party, should be exempted.
Mr. Stuart shuddered at the horrible proposition, and endeavoured to
reason with the man, but his words were unavailing. At length,
snatching up his rifle, he threatened to shoot him on the spot if he
persisted. The famished wretch dropped on his knees, begged pardon in
the most abject terms, and promised never again