XVII 



THE " LAST WOOD " 



ABOUT noon of that day, from the top of a ridge, we 

 saw, far in the distance, a black patch, so much larger 

 than those we had passed it seemed almost as though we 

 had got turned about and were travelling towards the 

 timber's edge. But my compass told me the direction 

 was north, and Beniah made me understand by signs that 

 this was the " last wood." It loomed up almost like a 

 forest ; but when we reached it, late in the afternoon, it 

 proved to be not more extensive than about five acres. 

 But all things go by comparison, and those five acres of 

 scattering small pine were as gratifying to us as though 

 they had made a Maine forest. Most of the trees averaged 

 from one to two inches in diameter, though there were 

 some twice as large, and I noticed a very few that might 

 have been five or six inches. At any rate, it all blazed 

 warmly, and it was pleasant after our experience in the 

 Land of Little Sticks to feel the heat of a fire once 

 more. How deeply I was to appreciate that fire a few 

 weeks later ! 



Beniah signed me next morning that we should camp 

 here one "sleep," to chop wood to take along with us, 

 and to kill caribou to cache here for our return. But 

 in fact we remained at the " last wood " two " sleeps," 

 because the caribou were not to be had easily, and the 

 stormy weather developed into a blizzard that delayed 



