DAYS IN THE WOODS 251 



down the stream, until the sinking sun indicates 

 time to camp. 



In a few minutes — for all hands are used to 

 the work — canoes are unladen, two tents pitched, 

 soft beds of fir-tops spread evenly within them, 

 wood cut, and bright fires burning, more for 

 cheerfulness than warmth. A box of hard bread 

 is opened, tea brewed, and ham set frizzling in the 

 pan. Tea is a great thing in the woods. Indians 

 are very fond of it ; their plan is to put as much 

 tea as they can get hold of into a kettle, and boil it 

 until it is nearly strong enough to stand a spoon 

 upright in. Of this bitter decoction they drink 

 enormous quantities for supper, and immediately 

 fall fast asleep, having nothing about them that 

 answers to civilised nerves. 



Sunrise finds us up ; breakfast is soon over, 

 tents are struck, canoes loaded, and we are on our 

 way down the deepening stream. It is a river 

 now, with lots of trout in the shallows, and salmon 

 in the deep pools. About noon we turn sharp oif 

 to the eastward up a little brawling brook, forcing 

 our way v^th some difficulty up its shallow rapids 

 till it gets too dry, and we are compelled to go 

 ashore and to " carry " over to the lake whither 

 we are bound. One of us stops behind to make a 



