The bones were gathered from the heap of ashes; these with the skins and the addition of tripe de roche we considered would support us tolerably well for a time.

As to the house, the parchment being torn from the windows, the apartment we selected for our abode was exposed to all the rigour of the season.

We endeavoured to exclude the wind as much as possible by placing loose boards against the apertures.

The temperature was now between 15 and 20 degrees below zero.

We procured fuel by pulling up the flooring of the other rooms, and water for cooking by melting the snow.