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 and which, by spoiling the food and cutting down exercise, gave them boils and stomach complaint, also.

The captains were constantly hoping for a ship and fresh supplies. None was sighted.

So February merged with March. The elk were retiring from the low country to the high, following the grass. On some days the fort had only one day's provisions in store.

"I can find no elk, notting," complained Drouillard, the chief hunter.

The Indians hoarded their own food very close, to make it last until the salmon began to rim again, in the spring.

"Six blue blankets, wan red wan, five striped wans that used to be our big United States flag, some old breeches an' waistcuts, an' Cap'n Clark's artillery dress-coat an' hat—faith, that's all we've got an' at prisent prices they wouldn't buy a square meal," reported Patrick Gass. "We'll be atin' ourselves naked."

"Dose t'ings be need' for boats an' hosses," said Cruzatte. "Of de leetle t'ings we haf scarce one hat full. How we go back four t'ousand miles I do not know."