LUMBERERS. 265 



up round the camps and hovels adds greatly to the 

 warmth. 



To move the great pine trees from the stump to the 

 river, often a distance of some miles, strong heavy horses 

 are required. In the lumber woods horses are bought 

 and sold by the pound, like beef. This amuses an old- 

 country man at first, but he will soon find that there is 

 some sense in this arrangement. He will find that a 

 horse which scales more than he is calculated to do from 

 eye measurement is invariably a good one ; whilst the one 

 that weighs less than might be calculated from the size of 

 his frame is invariably a bad one. The horse that weighs 

 well always girths well, and vice versa. The following is 

 a specimen of horsey conversation in the lumber woods : 



First Lumber Boss (admiringly) : " That's quite a horse 

 of yours." 



Second Lumber Boss : f< Yas, he is con-siderable of a 

 colt." 



First Lumber Boss (interrogatively) : " Guess he'll 

 weigh twelve hundred ? " 



Second Lumber Boss : " Wai, if he don't weigh twelve 

 hundred all out, I guess he'll pinch it up pretty snug." 



Chorus of Lumber Bosses : " A bul-ly colt, yes, sir ! " 



A lumberers' race is a thing to be seen. It is not quite 

 like an Ascot meeting, nor a grand military. It has a 

 special identity of its own. Course, a hauling road some 

 4 feet wide in the forest, a 5-foot wall of snow on either 

 side. The two horses starting for the race are ridden by 

 their respective teamsters, who have " gambled " at least a 

 month's wages on their favourites. The men of two camps 

 assembled to witness the race, back their respective team- 



