A SUMMER VOYAGE 25 



to them; I was thankful that I had the berries, and 

 resolutely ignored their little scalloped ruffles, which 

 I found pleased the eye and did not disturb the palate. 

 When bedtime arrived, I found undressing a lit- 

 tle awkward, my berth was so low ; there was plenty 

 of room in the aisle, and the other passengers were 

 nowhere to be seen, but I did not venture out. It 

 rained nearly all night, but the train made good 

 speed, and reached the land of daybreak nearly on 

 time. The water in the river had crept up during 

 the night to within a few inches of my boat, but I 

 rolled over and took another nap, all the same. 

 Then I arose, had a delicious bath in the sweet, 

 swift-running current, and turned my thoughts 

 toward breakfast. The making of the coffee was 

 the only serious problem. With everything soaked 

 and a fine rain still falling, how shall one build a 

 fire? I made my way to a little island above in 

 quest of driftwood. Before I had found the wood 

 I chanced upon another patch of delicious wild 

 strawberries, and took an appetizer of them out of 

 hand. Presently I picked up a yellow birch, stick 

 the size of my arm. The wood was decayed, but 

 the bark was perfect. I broke it in two, punched 

 out the rotten wood, and had the bark intact. The 

 fatty or resinous substance in this bark preserves it, 

 and makes it excellent kindling. With some sea- 

 soned twigs and a scrap of paper I soon had a fire 

 going that answered my every purpose. More ber- 

 ries were picked while the coffee was brewing, and 

 the breakfast was a success. 



