THE LONG TRAIL 



with the great trees towering high above 

 along the bank; the sodden earth under 

 foot; for a few moments the stars would 

 be shining, and then the sky would cloud 

 over and the rain would fall in torrents, 

 shutting out sky and trees and river. 

 Father first began with poetry; over and 

 over again he repeated "In Xanadu did 

 Kubla Khan a stately pleasure dome 

 decree," then he started talking at random, 

 but gradually he centred down to the ques- 

 tion of supplies, which was, of course, 

 occupying every one's mind. Part of the 

 time he knew that I was there, and he 

 would then ask me if I thought Cherrie 

 had had enough to eat to keep going. 

 Then he would forget my presence and 

 keep saying to himself: "I can't work 

 now, so I don't need much food, but he 

 and Cherrie have worked all day with the 

 canoes, they must have part of mine." 

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