e. It's bed, greatcoat, seat, cushion,
carpet-bag, everything. It's even food sometimes."

"Go on," cried Esau, laughing. "You can't eat your blanket."

"There was a snake at the Zoo once thought differently," said Gunson,
laughing. "No, you can't eat your blanket, but you can roll yourself up
warm in it sometimes when there's no food, and have a good sleep. _Qui
dort dine_, the French folk say."

"But do you mean to say that up there we shan't get anything to eat
sometimes?" cried Esau, who looked aghast.

"Yes, often. A man who wants to get on in a new country must not think
of eating and drinking. Why, I went three days once with nothing but a
drop of water now and then, and a bit of stick to chew, so as to keep my
mouth moist."

I burst out into an uncontrollable fit of laughter, and Gunson looked
annoyed.

"It's no joke, young fellow," he said; "and I'm not romancing."

"No, no, no," I panted out; "not--laughing--at you. Look--look!"

I pointed at Esau, and Mr Gunson's face relaxed into a smile, and then
he too laughed heartily at the comical, horror-stricken countenance
before us.

"What are you laughing at?" cried Esau. "I say, though, do you mean it?
Shall we have to go without sometimes like that?"

"Of course you will."

"I say, Mr Gordon," said Esau, in despondent tones, "hadn't we better
go back?"

"Go back?--no!" I cried. "It will not be very pleasant, but we can eat
all the more afterwards."

Esau brightened up.

"Yes," he said. "I didn't think of that."

"You neither of you seem to have thought anything about what's before
you, my lads."

"Then you think we have done very foolishly in coming?" I said.

"Not I. You have done wisely; and if you make up your minds to take
everything as it comes, I have no doubt that you will grow up into
well-to-do hearty men. There, now, let's talk business. I'll go with
you and see that you are not cheated while you buy yourselves a blanket
apiece. Have you knives?"

"Yes," I said; and we each produced one.

"Ah, well, you can keep those in your pockets to pick your teeth with
when you do get anything to eat. You must buy yourselves each a good
strong case-knife, big enough to chop wood or skin an animal, and to use
for your food."

"Anything else, sir?"

"There are other things you'll want, but you can wait till you join your
friend up at Fort Elk. I dare say he will be able to supply you out of
his store."

"But he does n