206 A SPORTSMAN'S EDEN. 



full of the red glow of a good wood fire and the 

 savoury smell of cooking. 



The shanty had not been used for three years, 

 so that we were not afraid of finding our sleeping 

 quarters too lively ; but for all that we turned 

 out the crisp dry brush which the lumberers had 

 used for bedding, and sent it leaping and roaring 

 in great, glad tongues of flame out through the 

 big square hole in the roof to the frosty sky we 

 could see above. Things went well and merrily 

 that night, and even ' the lady ' seemed fairly 

 comfortable, and even useful, until, when all else 

 was still save the Indians' snoring by the hearth, 

 a long, wailing howl sounded very near the door 

 of the hut. Then but I will be generous. A 

 wolfs howl is an eerie sound to those who have 

 never heard it before, and until you know the 

 beast, it does seem reasonable to wish to have 

 the door barred between him and your bedside. 



What a change comes over the scene between 

 that last look into the forest at night before 

 turning in and the first glimpse on waking ! 



Then, as you stood in the doorway, your hut 

 glowed a point of vivid crimson in the night. 

 Every frosted fern or birch bough within a dozen 

 yards of its glow was hung with glittering rubies, 

 while further in the forest the cold moonlight 

 glittered on frosty emeralds, or sparkled back 



