Had an anatomist been ordered to prepare the skeleton for a museum, he could not have cleaned it more effectually.
It was not very cheering to contemplate this useless skeleton; and the boys were about returning to their camping-place, when the idea occurred to Lucien that the bones might, at least, yield a _soup_.

He, of course, communicated this idea to the others, and it was at once agreed that they should boil them and try.

It was quite a happy thought.

No doubt the bones, which were fresh, and not yet dry, would make an excellent soup; and all three at once set about preparing to cook it.
Francois gathered sage-bushes to kindle a fire with, while Basil got hold of Lucien's little hatchet, and set to work to separate the ribs and joints of the skeleton.

Lucien, seeing that there were several kinds of plants growing on the margin of the rivulet, went down to examine them--in hopes that he might find the wild onion or the prairie-turnip among them, or perhaps some other root or vegetable that might help to enrich their pottage.
While all three were engaged in their separate duties, a loud exclamation from Basil drew the attention of his brothers.