AT GORDON'S CAMP 19 



quarters were small, and every bunk was taken. 

 If I myself wished to stay, perhaps one of the men 

 would share his bed with me. It was also out of the 

 question to accommodate the horses. The hovel, 

 as the backwoods stable is called, was full; and 

 with the temperature far below zero, it would be 

 impossible to stand the animals outside during the 

 night. 



After a hasty supper, my teamster and our guide 

 said good-bye and started back to the settlement. 

 It was to be a moonlight night and they would 

 have no trouble in getting out. My driver prom- 

 ised to return for me next day if no storm should 

 come up in the meantime to block the roads. I 

 had come a long way for this bear-story and I did 

 not intend to go home without it. 



At sundown the men came in from their work. 

 Your lumberman has but few idle moments in his 

 programme ; he is up before dawn, and, as soon as 

 it is light enough to swing an axe, begins his day's 

 work. An hour off at noon, and then till sunset his 

 labor goes on. 



The biggest man in camp offered to share his bed 

 with me, and it was after midnight before we re- 

 tired. I was an eager listener to many backwoods 

 stories told that evening round the ramdown stove. 

 Once there came an interruption. I could hear the 

 wailing of the little bear in the woman's quarters. 



