58 THE SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE; 



the night and cleared the snow from a space large enough 

 for the fire and our bed. The required amount of wood 

 and the balsam boughs were gathered, the fire built and 

 the bed arranged, after which we prepared and ate our 

 supper, and then wrapped ourselves in a woollen blanket, 

 with which each was provided, and lay down for sleep." I 

 inquired of the lad, " Were you able to sleep ?" thinking 

 the cold would probably act as a potent barrier in this 

 instance. The reply came promptly from the hardy lad, 

 " Oh yes ! I slept very well, for Uncle Ben kept up a good 

 fire all night." He then added, "The next morning, after 

 breakfast, we again shouldered our packs and pushed for- 

 ward about six miles into the forest, when we marked the 

 spot and buried our luggage." In answer to my inquiry 

 he informed me that they buried their packs, consisting of 

 provisions and traps, to keep other trappers, who might 

 chance to pass that way, from appropriating these articles 

 to their own use, which might otherwise happen. The 

 hiding having been completed, the old trapper and his 

 assistant retraced their steps to the log cabin from which 

 they had originally started on their journey to the woods. 

 Here they remained only until the following morning, when 

 they again^ started with other packs. This severe work of 

 packing lasted more than two weeks, when they reached 

 the locality that had been selected for trapping beaver. I 

 have avoided a repetition of his daily narrative, lest it 

 might become tiresome to the reader, although it was very 

 interesting to me when minutely detailed by the junior 

 participant. The story as told involved the daily doings, 

 the exposures, hardships, and fatigues of the old back- 



