A HOUSE OF SNOW. 235 



Towards noon, after a hearty breakfast, we resumed 

 our route, and having made our way for three hours and 

 a half over a difficult country, we found in front of us a 

 small river, on whose bank we determined to encamp for 

 the night. This was undoubtedly the best decision we 

 could arrive at, for Maclean and myself were thoroughly 

 worn out, neither of us being accustomed to a snow-shoe 

 journey of this kind, nor to the speed at which we were 

 forced to travel to keep up with our guides. 



The Indians set to work to construct a cabin for our 

 shelter during the night. First, they took off their shoes, 

 and making use of them for shovels, they hollowed out the 

 snow so as to form a circular chamber, about twenty feet 

 in diameter, whose walls were built of snow, hardened by 

 the hands and feet. Afterwards they cut down a few 

 young firs, which they propped up against one another in 

 the shape of a tent, and these they covered with inter- 

 twined branches and boughs, and, finally, with large 

 pieces of the bark of the birch, which in the Canadian 

 forests is as thick as a bull's hide. An opening for a 

 doorway was left on one side of this curiously constructed 

 hut; another, in the roof, served as a chimney. Two 

 enormous logs of green wood represented the fireplace, 

 and on these were spread the twigs and loose branches to 

 which they set light. Against the walls our Indians ar- 

 ranged two rows of pillows, fashioned out of the indurated 

 snow, in such a manner that our feet might come within 

 the beneficial influence of the fire. The dry boughs on 

 which we extended our furs made us a tolerably soft 

 couch, while our coverlets preserved us from the cold. 



As soon as all these preparations were completed, 

 Maclean, the Indians and myself made for the river- 



