26 LETTERS FROM THE BACKWOODS. 



voted to place nothing but green boughs over this for 

 a covering from the dew ; but the dark and sombre 

 heavens told too well that a storm was at hand, and 

 I insisted that bark should be placed at least over 

 the spot I occupied. They finally covered the whole 

 with bark, and it was well they did, for the rain soon 

 began to come down, and continued to fall the live- 

 long night. But our fire blazed up cheerfully in the 

 gloom; the long trunks were on fire from end to end; 

 while those standing near would now and then shoot 

 up a spiral flame, conspiring to render the scene still 

 more picturesque. One tree, standing close by, threat- 

 ened to burn off before morning, and I asked the 

 guide if it would not be dangerous to sleep so 

 near it. He cast his eye up the tall trunk a moment, 

 and coolly replied, as he slashed off a piece of roast 

 venison, that "it would fall t'other way.'' This was 

 calculating rather closer than I liked, but one soon 

 learns there is no appeal from the decision of a hunt- 

 er. We presented a singular group as we sat in a 

 semicircle around our blazing fire, each with his morsel 

 on a chip before him. At length, however, we turned 

 in. AVith a few boughs placed over a green stump 

 just cut, for a pillow, I rolled myself in my blanket, 

 and stretched out before the fire. In a short time, 

 the crackling of the flames and the low steady patter 

 of the rain on the leaves sung me to sleep, and my 

 troubles were forgotten. About midnight, however, 

 I was waked up by an intense heat, and, rousing my- 

 self, I looked about a moment and laughed long and 

 loud. One poor fellow, who had lain and shivered 



