Original - North Central Michigan College Library

anfcoften been resorted to for food. No sooner,therefore, had I discovered it than I began todescend the mountain to fetch the men and theIndian woman. The woman was well acquaintedwith the mode of preparing the lichen forthe stomach, which is done by boiling it downinto a mucilage, as thick as the white of an egg.In a short time we obtained a hearty meal, forthough our food was of a bitter and disagreeabletaste, we felt too much joy in finding it and toomuch relief in eating it not to partake of itwith much appetite and pleasure. As to therest, it saved the life of the poor woman; forthe men who had projected to kill her wouldunquestionably have accomplished their purpose.One of them gave me to understand thathe was not absolutely a novice in such anaffair; that he had wintered in the Northwest,and had been obliged to eat human flesh.On the evening of the ninth day the windfell and our canoe was launched, though notwithout difficulty from the weakly state of thecrew. We paddled all night, but continuallyfell asleep, and whenever my own eyes wereclosed I dreamed of tempting food.The next morning we discovered two canoesof Indians on their way from the Sault. Oninforming them of our condition they suppliedus with as many fish as we were willing toaccept; and no sooner were we possessed of thistreasure than we put ashore, made a fire, andrefreshedourselves with a plentiful breakfast.213