there was but little light in the lodge , as the fire was low , and its fitful flashes , by disclosing their white faces and then dropping them in sudden darkness , served rather to increase than to dispel her fears . " merciful spirit ! " cried a voice from the opposite part of the lodge ; " there are two corpses clothed with garments ! " the hunter 's wife turned around , but seeing nobody save her little child , staring across from under his blanket , she said to herself , " the boy can not speak ; the sounds were but the gusts of wind . " she trembled , and was ready to sink to the earth . her husband at this moment entered , and in some measure relieved her alarm . he threw down the carcass of a large fat deer . " behold what a fine and fat animal ! " cried the mysterious females ; and they immediately ran and pulled off pieces of the whitest fat , which they greedily devoured . the hunter and his wife looked on with astonishment , but remained silent . they supposed that their guests might have been stricken with famine . the next day , however , the same unusual conduct was repeated . the strange females again tore off the fat and devoured it with eagerness . the third day , the hunter thought that he would anticipate their wants by tying up a share of the hunt , and placing it apart for their express use . they accepted it , but still appeared dissatisfied , and went to the wife 's portion and tore off more . the hunter and his wife were surprised at such rude and unaccountable conduct , but they remained silent , for they respected their guests , and had observed that they had been attended with marked good luck during the sojourn of these mysterious visitors in their lodge . in other respects , the deportment of the females was strictly unexceptionable . they were modest , distant , and silent . they never uttered a word during the day . at night they would occupy themselves in procuring wood , which they carried to the lodge , and then , restoring the implements exactly where they had found them , resume their places without speaking . they were never known to stay out until daylight . they never laughed or jested . 
astonished .
how did the hunter and his wife feel when they saw the mysterious females devour the deer ?
how did the hunter and his wife feel when they saw the mysterious females devour the deer ?