uois had not escaped
scatheless from the paw of the bear. His scalp was torn almost off, and
hung down over his eyes, while blood streamed down his face. He was
conveyed by his comrades to the camp, where he lay two days in a state
of insensibility, at the end of which time he revived and recovered
daily. Afterwards when the camp moved he had to be carried, but in the
course of two months he was as well as ever, and quite as fond of
bear-hunting!

Among other trophies of this hunt there were two deer, and a buffalo,
which last had probably strayed from the herd. Four or five Iroquois
were round this animal whetting their knives for the purpose of cutting
it up when Henri passed, so he turned aside to watch them perform the
operation, quite regardless of the fact that his neck and face were
covered with blood which flowed from one or two small punctures made by
the bear.

The Indians began by taking off the skin, which certainly did not occupy
them more than five minutes. Then they cut up the meat and made a pack
of it, and cut out the tongue, which is somewhat troublesome, as that
member requires to be cut out from under the jaw of the animal, and not
through the natural opening of the mouth. One of the fore-legs was cut
off at the knee joint, and this was used as a hammer with which to break
the skull for the purpose of taking out the brains, these being used in
the process of dressing and softening the animal's skin. An axe would
have been of advantage to break the skull, but in the hurry of rushing
to the attack the Indians had forgotten their axes, so they adopted the
common fashion of using the buffalo's hoof as a hammer, the shank being
the handle. The whole operation of flaying, cutting up, and packing the
meat, did not occupy more than twenty minutes. Before leaving the
ground these expert butchers treated themselves to a little of the
marrow and warm liver in a raw state!

Cameron and Joe walked up to the group while they were indulging in this
little feast.

"Well, I've often seen that eaten, but I never could do it myself,"
remarked the former.

"No!" cried Joe in surprise; "now that's oncommon cur'us. I've _lived_
on raw liver an' marrow-bones for two or three days at a time, when we
wos chased by the Camanchee Injuns and didn't dare to make a fire, an'
it's ra'al good it is. Won't ye try it _now_?"

Cameron shook his head.

"No, thankee; I'll not refuse when I can't help it, but until th