188 SPOKT IN NOETH AMERICA. 



your first lesson in backwoods fashions. First of 

 all, put on these woollen socks ; now wind these two 

 pieces of felt round your feet ; and then you can 

 put on your moccasins. Now let me put on your 

 snow-shoes for you. Keep the legs wide apart, for 

 if you walk with your ordinary gait in shoes three 

 feet long, you are sure to fall." 



Without more ado, he seized his rifle and followed 

 Monai, who was fift}^ yards ahead of us. I had 

 scarcely taken three steps before my snow-shoes got 

 entangled, and down I came upon my nose ; but I 

 got up without much difficult}^ and after two or 

 three more tumbles (which the snow prevented from 

 being dangerous), I could get on very well in my 

 snow shoes. 



After two hours' walk through a thick forest of 

 cedars and pine trees we arrived at the banks of a 

 warm water spring, where we rested some time, and 

 then resumed our march. I observed that Monai, 

 who led the way as our guide, advanced with great 

 caution, examining the marks on the snow, and the 

 twigs and branches which had been broken from the 

 trees. At last he stopped short before a fallen tree, 

 and stooping over its sides plunged his arms into 

 the snow. " Deer here," said Mr. How^ard, " there 

 are the fumets quite fresh. They can't go fast 

 over this snow, and we shall be sure to come upon 

 them presently, so be sure and keep quiet, and if a 

 deer comes within shot don't think of firing at him. 



