EXPEDITION TO THE LAURENTIAN HILLS. 193 



of the hardest kigging that you ever tried. This matter of 

 a good supply of hard, green fire-wood is first in import- 

 ance. Next to this it is desirable to keep within moderate 

 distance of a stream or spring, as you have the food to cook 

 and the dishes to wash for supper and breakflist, and will 

 need a good deal of water. Lastly, for a good place to sleep 

 on, you must have in front of your fire-place a smooth space, 

 nearly level, sloping perhaps a little toward the fire, and if 

 possible a little lower than the fire, so that the blaze will shine 

 fairly over you and cover you as with a blanket, 



" Having chosen your spot, one of the party fells a tree as 

 tall as can be found, and ten inches or a foot througli ; cuts 

 the trunk into logs eight or ten feet long, and works up the 

 top for small wood. In the mean time another man prepares 

 and drives two stout stakes into the ground at the back of 

 the fire-place, about six feet apart, and four feet higli, brac- 

 ing them from behind with other stakes sloping into notches 

 near their tops. Three of the biggest logs are now placed, 

 one upon another, against the stakes, forming a great wooden 

 chimney-back, three or four feet high. For andirons you find, 

 if possible, two large stones ; but, if stones are scarce, you cut 

 a ten-inch hemlock, and, taking two short logs from the butt, 

 place them against your back-logs at right angles to them. On 

 these you lay the fourth of your great hard-wood logs ; and 

 thus you have the foundation of your night's fire. While 

 some are making these preparations, others ought to be gather- 

 ing hemlock bark and dry limbs in great quantities to start 

 the fire, and to enliven it from time to time. Also, if neces- 

 sary, another hard-wood tree should be felled, that you may 

 have one or two extra logs to put on towards morning. 



" The kindling of a fire in the woods, especially in a hard 

 rain, requires some science. A good way is to find a dead 

 cedar or other soft-wood tree that leans to the south. The 

 wood and bark on the sunny side of such a tree is sure to be 

 dry. Split off some strips, and reduce them to fine wliitlings 

 with your jack-knife, under your coat or other cover ; and, 

 with careful manipulation of matches and kindling stuff, you 

 will soon have a roaring fire under and over the great tbre- 



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