They left their skin-couch at an early hour, close after daybreak. Hunger and anxiety drove them out of their tent. Not a morsel1 of anything for breakfast! They looked abroad over the country, in order, if possible, to descry2 some living creature. None could be seen—nothing but the wilderness3 waste of snow, with here and there the side of a steep hill, or a rock showing cold and bleak4. Even the wolves that had robbed them were no longer to be seen, as if these creatures knew that they had got all that was worth having, and had now taken themselves off to hunt for plunder5 elsewhere.
The situation of our travellers was really one of extreme peril6, although it may be difficult for you, young reader, to conceive why it should be so. They, however, knew it well. They knew that they might travel for days through that inhospitable region, without falling in with anything that would make a single meal for them. But less time than that would suffice to starve them all. Already they felt the pangs7 of hunger—for they had not eaten since their breakfast of the preceding day, the wolves having interrupted their preparations for dinner.
It was of no use remaining where they were; so, striking their tent once more, they travelled forward. It was but poor consolation9 to them that they travelled much lighter10 than before. They had nothing to carry but their guns, and these they had got ready for work—so that their journey partook somewhat of the character of a hunting excursion. They did not even follow a direct course, but occasionally turned to one side or the other, wherever a clump11 of willows12, or any other roughness on the ground, looked like it might be the shelter of game. But during that whole day—although they travelled from near sunrise to sunset—not a living thing was seen; and for the second night they went supperless to bed.
A man will bear hunger for many days—some more, some less—without actually dying of it; but at no period will his sufferings be greater than during the third or fourth day. He will grow more feeble afterwards, but the pain which he endures will not be greater.
On the third day the sufferings of our party were extreme. They began to chew pieces of their skin-tent and blankets; but although this took the sharp edge off their appetites, it added nothing to their strength; and they still craved13 for food, and grew feebler.
To use a poetical14 phrase, Marengo now became the “cynosure of every eye.” Marengo was not very fat. The sledge15 and short rations8 had thinned him down, and his ribs16 could be easily traced. Although the boys, and Basil in particular, would have suffered much before sacrificing him, yet starvation will reconcile a man to part with his best friend. In spite of their friendship for Marengo, his masters could not help scanning him from time to time with hungry looks. Marengo was an old dog, and, no doubt, as tough as a piece of tan-leather; but their appetites were made up for anything.
It was near midday. They had started early, as on the day before. They were trudging17 wearily along, and making but little progress. Marengo was struggling with his sledge, feeble as any of the party. Basil saw that the eyes of his companions were from time to time bent18 upon the dog; and though none of them said anything, he understood the thoughts that were passing within them. He knew that none of them wished to propose it—as Basil was the real master of Marengo—but their glances were sufficiently19 intelligible20 to him. He looked at the downcast countenance21 of the once merry François,—at the serious air of Norman—at the wan22 cheek and sunken eye of Lucien, whom Basil dearly loved. He hesitated no longer. His duty to his companions at once overcame his affection for his faithful dog.
“We must kill him!” said he, suddenly stopping, and pointing to Marengo.
The rest halted.
“I fear there’s no help for it,” said Norman, turning his face in every direction, and sweeping23 the surface of the snow with hopeless glances.
François also assented24 to the proposal.
“Let us make a condition,” suggested Lucien; “I for one could walk five miles farther.” And as Lucien said this, he made an effort to stand erect25, and look strong and brave; but Basil knew it was an effort of generosity26.
“No,” said he,—“no, dear Luce. You are done up. We must kill the dog!”
“Nonsense, Basil, you mistake,” replied the other; “I assure you I am far from being done up. I could go much farther yet. Stay!” continued he, pointing ahead; “you see yonder rocks? They are about three miles off, I should think. They lie directly in our course. Well, now, let us agree to this condition. Let us give poor Marengo a chance for his life. If we find nothing before reaching those rocks, why then—”
And Lucien, seeing Marengo gazing up in his face, left the sentence unfinished. The poor brute27 looked up at all of them as though he understood every word that they were saying; and his mute appeal, had it been necessary, would not have been thrown away. But it did not require that to get him the proposed respite28. All agreed willingly with Lucien’s proposition; and, shouldering their pieces, the party moved on.
Lucien had purposely understated the distance to the rocks. It was five, instead of three miles; and some of them made it full ten, as they were determined29 Marengo should have the benefit of every chance. They deployed30 like skirmishers; and not a brake or brush that lay to the right or left of the path but was visited and beaten by one or other of them. Their diligence was to no purpose. After two hours’ weary work, they arrived among the rocks, having seen not a trace of either quadruped or bird.
“Come!” cried Lucien in his now feeble voice, still trying to look cheerful, “we must pass through them. There is a chance yet. Let him have fair play. The rocks were to be the limit, but it was not stated what part of them. Let us pass through to the other side—they do not extend far.”
Encouraged by the words of Lucien, the party entered among the rocks, moving on separate paths. They had gone only a few paces, when a shout from Norman caused the rest to look to him for an explanation. No animal was in sight. Had he seen any? No; but something that gratified him certainly, for his voice and manner expressed it.
“What is it?” inquired the others, all speaking at the same time.
“Tripe31 de roche!” answered he.
“Tripe de roche?”
“Yes,” replied Norman, “look there!” and he pointed32 to one of the rocks directly ahead of them, at the same time moving forward to it. The others hastened up after. On reaching the rock, they saw what Norman had meant by the words tripe de roche (rock-tripe). It was a black, hard, crumply33 substance, that nearly covered the surface of the rock, and was evidently of a vegetable nature. Lucien knew what it was as well as Norman, and joy had expressed itself upon his pale cheeks at the sight. As for Basil and François 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 “lichen34,” and of that celebrated35 species which will sustain human life. It was the Gyrophora. Norman confirmed Lucien’s statement, and furthermore affirmed, that not only the Indians and Esquimaux, but also parties of voyageurs, had often subsisted36 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 palatable37 food—the Gyrophora vellea of botanists38. 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 Norman had discovered was the “next best,” and they were all glad at finding even that.
The first thing to be thought of was to collect it, and all four set to peeling and scraping it from the rocks. The next thought was to make it ready for eating. 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 not met with a tree during all that day’s journey!
They were now as badly off as ever. The tripe de roche would be of no more use to them than so much dry grass. What could they do with it?
In the midst of their suspense39, one of them thought of the sledge—Marengo’s sledge. That would make a fire, but a very small one. It might do to cook a single meal. Even that was better than none. Marengo was not going to object to the arrangement. He looked quite willing to part with the sledge. But a few hours before, it came near being used to cook Marengo himself. He was not aware of that, perhaps, but no matter. All agreed that the sledge 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 jumble40, cried back to them to desist. He had espied41 some willows at no great distance. Out of these a fire could be made. The sledge, therefore, was let alone for the present. Basil and François immediately started for the willows, while Norman and Lucien remained upon the spot to prepare the “tripe” for the pot.
In a short time the former parties returned with two large bundles of willows, and the fire was kindled43. 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 became reduced to a soft gummy pulp44, and Norman thickened the mess to his taste by putting in more snow, or more of the “tripe,” as it seemed to require it. The pot was then taken from the fire, and all four greedily ate of its contents. It was far from being palatable, and had a clammy “feel” in the mouth, something like sago; 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 broth45. This Norman’s companions could easily credit, but where was the meat to come from? The Indians prefer the tripe de roche when prepared along with the roe46 of fish, or when boiled in fish liquor.
Our weary voyageurs resolved to remain among the rocks for that night at least; and with this intent they put up their little tent. They did not kindle42 any fire, as the willows were scarce, and there would be barely enough to make one or two more boilings of the rock-tripe. They spread their skins within the tent, and creeping in, kept one another as warm as they could until morning.
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1
morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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descry
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| v.远远看到；发现；责备 | |
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3
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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4
bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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5
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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8
rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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9
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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10
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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11
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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12
willows
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| n.柳树( willow的名词复数 )；柳木 | |
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13
craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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14
poetical
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| adj.似诗人的；诗一般的；韵文的；富有诗意的 | |
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15
sledge
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| n.雪橇，大锤；v.用雪橇搬运，坐雪橇往 | |
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16
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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17
trudging
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的现在分词形式） | |
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18
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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20
intelligible
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| adj.可理解的，明白易懂的，清楚的 | |
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21
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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22
wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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23
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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24
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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26
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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27
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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28
respite
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| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
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29
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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30
deployed
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| （尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用 | |
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31
tripe
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| n.废话，肚子, 内脏 | |
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32
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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crumply
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| 易皱的，满是皱纹的 | |
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34
lichen
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| n.地衣, 青苔 | |
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35
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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36
subsisted
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| v.（靠很少的钱或食物）维持生活，生存下去( subsist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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37
palatable
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| adj.可口的，美味的；惬意的 | |
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38
botanists
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| n.植物学家，研究植物的人( botanist的名词复数 ) | |
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39
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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40
jumble
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| vt.使混乱，混杂；n.混乱；杂乱的一堆 | |
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41
espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
kindle
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| v.点燃，着火 | |
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43
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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44
pulp
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| n.果肉，纸浆；v.化成纸浆，除去...果肉，制成纸浆 | |
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45
broth
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| n.原(汁)汤(鱼汤、肉汤、菜汤等) | |
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46
roe
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| n.鱼卵；獐鹿 | |
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