XVII 



STILL ON THE TRAIL WITH THE DOGS 



THE preparation of the bed in the 

 winter camp and getting ready to 

 occupy it were interesting operations. 

 In the previous chapter we have described 

 the method of piling up the snow out of the 

 selected camp in drifts or banks on three 

 sides. Sometimes when we were not too 

 weary and there was abundance of live 

 spruce or balsam trees near, we would cut 

 some of them down and luxuriously carpet 

 our camp with their branches finely broken 

 up. Generally we were satisfied to leave a 

 few inches of snow on the ground. On this 

 we spread out our robes and blankets. My 

 Indians were capital bed makers, and I 

 never once had to complain of them. 

 Thoroughly and well would they arrange 

 the under robes and blankets, taking great 

 care to remove every stone or stick which, 

 under one's back or ribs, would not invite 

 sleep. 



260 





