254 HUNTING CAMPS. 



fall of snow helped us once more to see what game was 

 about, and this time our suspicions became certainties, 

 for the only tracks to be found were those of does, and 

 all headed in one direction. We consequently decided 

 to forsake the high ground where we had been so 

 successful, and to descend to the lower levels. 



Upon those more than breezy heights there are few 

 spots suitable for camping, and as we had but a blanket 

 apiece, we spent far too many of our nights in a reek 

 of in-blown wood-smoke. Our eyes suffered quite 

 severely, Ed being almost smoke-blind at one time, 

 in view of which it was fortunate that our chances of 

 shooting came early in the trip. Although I dislike 

 cold as much as other people, I still more dislike a 

 stove in the tent, and until absolutely forced by the 

 weather will have none of it. Even in the chilliest 

 autumn a lean-to and an open fire are, in my opinion, 

 far preferable. 



That night it turned very cold. Indeed, though com- 

 paratively early in the season, 17th October, the frost 

 which then commenced held until the following spring, 

 so that we had some difficulty in reaching the open 

 water of the lake. But at length we made our way 

 through, and set up a snug camp in the green timber. 



No sooner were we settled than a gale, accompanied 

 by heavy snow, began to rise, and the wind blew so 

 fiercely that it brought us out of our blankets in the 

 small hours to cut away all overhanging branches and 

 to lop the surrounding trees. With these we made a 

 zariba, inside which we were exceedingly comfortable. 

 From this date we returned to camp each evening with 

 increasing pleasure, after long and fruitless journeys 

 through the snow that covered the treacherous windfalls. 



