On entering the hut the chief and his lieutenant cast a wistful look at the rafters, laden with venison and buffalo meat.  Mr. Stuart made a merit of necessity, and invited them to help themselves.  They did not wait to be pressed.  The rafters were soon eased of their burden; venison and beef were passed out to the crew before the door, and a scene of gormandizing commenced, of which few can have an idea, who have not witnessed the gastronomic powers of an Indian, after an interval of fasting.  This was kept up throughout the day; they paused now and then, it is true, for a brief interval, but only to return to the charge with renewed ardor.  The chief and the lieutenant surpassed all the rest in the vigor and perseverance of their attacks; as if from their station they were bound to signalize themselves in all onslaughts.  Mr. Stuart kept them well supplied with choice bits, for it was his policy to overfeed them, and keep them from leaving the hut, where they served as hostages for the good conduct of their followers.  Once, only, in the course of the day, did the chief sally forth.  Mr. Stuart and one of his men accompanied him, armed with their rifles, but without betraying any distrust.  The chieftain soon returned, and renewed his attack upon the larder.  In a word, he and his worthy coadjutor, the lieutenant, ate until they were both stupefied.

Towards evening the Indians made their preparations for the night according to the practice of war parties.  Those outside of the hut threw up two breastworks, into which they retired at a tolerably early hour, and slept like overfed hounds.  As to the chief and his lieutenant, they passed the night in the hut, in the course of which, they, two or three times, got up to eat.  The travellers took turns, one at a time, to mount guard until the morning.

Scarce had the day dawned, when the gormandizing was renewed by the whole band, and carried on with surprising vigor until ten o’clock, when all prepared to depart.  They had six days’ journey yet to make, they said, before they should come up with the Crows, who, they understood, were encamped on a river to the northward.  Their way lay through a hungry country, where there was no game; they would, moreover, have but little time to hunt; they, therefore, craved a small supply of provisions for their journey.  Mr. Stuart again invited them to help themselves.  They did so with keen forethought, loading themselves with the choicest parts of the meat, and leaving the late plenteous larder far gone in a consumption.  Their next request was for a supply of ammunition, having guns, but no powder and ball.  They promised to pay magnificently out of the spoils of their foray.  “We are poor now,” said they, “and are obliged to go on foot, but we shall soon come back laden with booty, and all mounted on horseback, with scalps hanging at our bridles.  We will then give each of you a horse to keep you from being tired on your journey.”