194 THE SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE; 



which to erect our lean-to. The place selected for this 

 purpose was by the side of the body of an old fallen tree, 

 where the ground was favorable for our bed, — free from 

 stone, etc. The body of this tree formed a wall, which 

 was about two feet high, for the lean-to ; and, inasmuch as 

 it rested firmly on the ground at this point, effectually kept 

 out the wind on this side of it. The next thing done was 

 the preparation of four poles, employed to support the 

 roof, which consisted of a rubber cloth, the dimensions of 

 which were about five by seven feet. The poles were 

 about ten feet in length, with a diameter at the base of 

 two and a half inches and somethino- less than one inch at 

 the top. The poles, properly sharpened at the base, were 

 driven into the o-round on the side of the trunk of the 

 fallen tree opposite to the one on which we intended to 

 make our bed, and the distance was so chosen that when 

 these supports rested on this wall, which served as a ful- 

 crum, or prop, the anterior portion of our roof was raised 

 about four feet above the ground. The rubber cover was 

 then placed over these poles and made fast by the use of 

 shoe-strings, that we had brought with us, after which the 

 ends of our habitation were closed by evergreen boughs, 

 selected for this purpose. It will now be seen by the 

 reader that the lean-to has been so constructed as to close 

 the sides of it against the wind, and that only the front 

 remains open, before which there is placed a fire, which 

 is kept burning during the whole night, and which may be 

 easily so managed as to supply the requisite amount of 

 heat. It was still necessary to provide wood for the fire 

 and balsam twigs for the bed. This was promptly done, 



