40 CANADIAN WILDS. 



through to the water. In this trench put what 

 is required to be left behind, filling up with the 

 chopped ice, tramp this well down, then pour 

 several kettles of water on top. This freezes at 

 once, making it as difficult to gnaw or scratch 

 into as would be the side of an ironclad. I 

 have come on such a cache after an absence of 

 three weeks to find the droppings of wolves and 

 foxes about, but the contents untouched. One 

 could not help smiling on seeing these signs, 

 imagining the profound thinking the animals 

 must have exerted in trying to figure out a plan 

 to reach the toothsome stuff under that hard, 

 glazed surface. 



At other seasons of the year a good cache 

 is made by cutting and peeling a long live tam- 

 arac pole. Place this balanced over a strong 

 crutch, tie what is to be left secure to the small 

 end, over which place a birch bark covering to 

 keep off the rain (or failing the proper place 

 or season for getting bark, a very good protec- 

 tion is made with a thatch of balsam boughs 

 placed symmetrically as shingles) and tying all 

 in place, tip up the small end, weighting down 

 the butt with heavy logs or stones; and possess 

 your mind in peace. 



Two of the best auxiliaries to a short supply 

 of provisions that a party can take on any trip 

 in the wilds of Ontario or Quebec, are gill-net 



