38 THE LABRADOR PENINSULA. CHAP. in. 



them on the outside. Such a tent is quite waterproof as 

 long as the wind blows the rain in the rear, but if the 

 wind should change, its value as a shelter becomes very 

 materially diminished, and the only remedy is to com- 

 plete the circle with more poles and bark, and thus make 

 a spruce-bark lodge an excellent substitute for one of 

 birch-bark, and capable of affording shelter against wind, 

 rain, or snow. 



It rained heavily during the night, but towards morn- 

 ing the clouds cleared away, a cold wind from the north 

 set in, and the thermometer fell to 4 below the freez- 

 ing point, congealing the rain-drops which hung on the 

 leaves, and covering the little pools of water with a thin 

 sheet of ice. But when the first rays of the unclouded 

 sun fell on the hills surrounding our camp, just as a gentle 

 breeze swayed the branches lightly to and fro, the frozen 

 rain-drops sparkled like clusters of diamonds, throwing 

 off rainbow colours all around. This ever- varying play of 

 light descended into the valley with the uprising sun, 

 lingered about our camp for a few short minutes, and 

 faded slowly away as the frozen rain-drops melted in the 

 genial warmth of his rays. 



The men rose that morning cold and disheartened by 

 the heavy labour of the preceding day, and the still more 

 severe work which evidently lay before them ; but nature, 

 all bright and fair, together with the wonderful spectacle 

 of the rainbow-coloured light sparkling and dancing as it 

 descended the hills, soon made them forget their troubles, 

 and they went on with another load, singing and cheer- 

 ful at heart. Speaking at breakfast about the sudden 

 change from warm rain to a temperature of 4 below 



