THE BUILDING OF THE CAMP. NIGHT. 259 



for a roof. Then he cut and peeled bark from large, 

 smooth spruce-trees, hacking around the tree near the 

 roots, and Il.cn again as high up as he could reach, and 

 cutting a line from top to bottom, then peeling off the 

 bark with a wedge-like stick, in fact, "skinning" the tree 

 in a moment's lime. This hark, in long broad sheets, was 

 laid on I he roof poles, rough side out, shingled and lapped, 

 and set up at the sides, with beveled ends tucked under 

 the root', the whole making a snug, perfectly rainproof 

 camp, open in front, and IK -fore which a bright, cheerful 

 fire was speedily built. 



Our supper was of crackers or hard biscuits, maple 

 sugar, tin- hottest of tea. and the tendcrest and most He- 

 licioii< hroiied venison. Thu< refreshed, life became at- 

 tractive again, although darkness was settling upon us and 

 the wind still roared through the tree-tops, and we heard 

 the grinding and groaning of the flood-wood by the shore, 

 and a tempestuous night was threatened. 



Iiohinson Cru<oe and his man Friday (as we very readily 

 imagined ourselves) went down to the shore and watched 

 the \va\<- and coming night, and the white caps gleaming 

 with the lierceiios ,,f the fangs of wild beasts. 



Night settled black and boisterous, but we lounged on 

 our bed of bougie in camp before a cheerful bla/.e, smoked 

 and told Dories of other adventures, until, without 

 knowing ju- . when or how it happened, we were abed and 

 asleep. In l!i night, 'here was rain which pattered harm 

 le-<l\ on our :jood rooi. Half awake, at one time, I heard 

 healthy -t.eps on the leaves, and fired a rifle-shot as a 



