AN AUTUMN HOLIDAY 59 



As they left the narrow footpath where they liad 

 been walking in Indian hie tliey stepped into an open 

 space from wliii'h all tlie trees had been cut, as well as 

 the underbrush. At the further side, with its back 

 against the hill toward the north, was a log-cabin witli 

 small Avindows in the front and sides. A little way from 

 it was a sort of long shed, roofed with liemlock boughs, 

 under wlueh was a grindstone, some tools, etc. In the 

 centre of the open square the earth was black, and there 

 were many ashes, as if a hre had often burned tliere. 



At one side Nez himself was at work, axe in hand, 

 before a sort of tent made of two upright poles, and 

 a crosspiece against which he was laying hemlock 

 boughs. Not far from this two logs about five feet 

 long Avere placed side by side on the ground. The 

 upper side was shaved off ; at one end they were about 

 four inches apart and at the other eight. Between this 

 was a line of glowing charcoal, kept from burning the 

 logs by the earth which was heaped against them. At 

 either end there was an upright stake, and a bar was 

 laid ])etween these so that it came about a foot and a 

 half above the lire. 



