Brent went upstairs again, and sat down like Crusoe to consider the situation.
A billet in Beaucourt postulated the quest of a number of elemental necessities. Brent tore the white wood lid off the box on which he was sitting, produced a pencil, and began the creation of an inventory much like an ancient scribe dabbing his cuneiform letters upon a tablet of clay.
At the top of the board he printed:—
Under this heading he wrote:
Food.
Water.
Wood for Stove.
Kettle or Saucepan.
Basin to wash in.
He headed the second list:
Blankets.
A palliasse.
Furniture.
Plates and cups.
Green food. What price Scurvy
N.B. Try nettle tops.
Milk.
A looking-glass.
So much for the paper work. Brent bored a hole in the board, using his jack-knife, and hung his inventory to a nail on the kitchen
