When the lasso had all been thus prepared and eaten, the broad girth which had served so well in holding the pack-saddle on the mule's back, was cleaned, cooked, and eaten.

These substitutes for jerk sustained us very well till we again arrived at the fort.
Another consultation was now held, and the question was--what shall we do now?
We were again, apparently, at the starting point of another long, enforced fast.

Our path seemed hedged in.

The prospect was, indeed, very gloomy.

Our only reasonable hope for even the temporary prolongation of our lives was centered in our ever faithful, and always reliable old mule.