LOST IN THE WILDERNESS 205 



could find near the stove to lie down on. Some of 

 the better-off people would lay out blankets or 

 straw mattresses, and occasionally a feather bed. 

 These would be laid out on the floor with the feet 

 towards the stove and very comfortable they were. 

 Often being out all day and coming in damp from 

 the snow or perspiration, one appreciated the heat 

 of a fire or stove to dry up by. A cold bed in a 

 far-away room of the house is anything but com- 

 fortable at such a time and might entail serious 

 results. A seal-oil iron lamp hanging to the 

 rafters used to be kept burning all night. This 

 shed a dim light which allowed of moving around 

 without treading on other sleepers. Near the 

 door used to be put up a small shelf or rough table 

 that was used as a washstand. Nearby on a long 

 peg or a hook would be a bucket of water and a tin 

 cup. Any one who felt so inclined could get up 

 at any hour of the night, boil his cup of tea and 

 start off without disturbing anyone, and no of- 

 fence was felt at this silent parting. It was just 

 what we had proposed to do that morning. About 

 three o'clock the Indian had got up and set the 

 kettle on the stove. Then he had gone to the 

 washstand for his morning's ablutions, when I 

 suddenly heard a yell. I jumped up and saw my 

 Indian prancing around and holding his dripping 

 head with both hands. I knew he was not drunk, 

 but on going up to him I got a sniff of the gin and 

 then I knew the cause. The poor fellow had wash- 



