BELATED A COLD NIGHt's WATCH. 91 



But little shelter could be found, and tlie only wood 

 was a few dry poplar saplings. 



The two dead buffalo lay some 200 yards apart, 

 and placing a gun and powxler-horn against one to 

 scare away the w^olves, they lighted a small fire near 

 the other, and proceeded to take off his hide, and 

 cook steaks for supper. By this time night had quite 

 closed in, and a strong north wind blew icily cold, 

 piercing the single flannel shirts of the unfortunate 

 hunters like gauze. Bitterly did they now^ repent 

 having left shirts and capotes behind ; for the prospect 

 of spending the long winter night with the ther- 

 mometer below zero, and without shelter or proper 

 fire, was unpleasant enough. 



All the wood that could be found — a very scanty 

 supply — was collected to replenish the tiny fire, the 

 snow^ scraped away, and wdllow^s cut and stre^vn for 

 a couch. The raw buffalo hide w^as divided into 

 two, and Cheadle made himself very small to creep 

 under one half, while La Eonde and ]\Iisquapamayoo 

 huddled together under the other. The reeking hide 

 was delightfully warm, and the weary travellers were 

 soon sound asleep. But their comfort was, alas ! of 

 short duration. Before long, the sleepers awoke half 

 frozen and benumbed in every- limb. The scanty 

 coverlet, so soft and warm at first, had quickly frozen 

 hard as stone, and formed an arch over the recumbent 

 bodies, through which the keen winter wdnd rushed 

 like the draught under the arch of a bridge. 



Sleep was out of the question, and kicking aside 

 their deceitful protection, the shivering trio stamped 



