FOREST LIFE. 87 



But an ox hardly knows how to refuse comphancc with his mas- 

 ter's Mashes, so submissive is he in his disposition. 



Of late, since roads have been cut, and even "turnpikes" made 

 a considerable portion of the distance up the main rivers, such as 

 the " Calais and Houlton Road" on the St. Croix, and the " Mili- 

 tary Road" on the Penobscot, which connect with other less per- 

 fect thoroughfares, and finally terminate in common swamp roads, 

 our conveyances are much easier, and the business of taking the 

 team on to the ground is, and may be safely, deferred until frosts 

 and snows admit of a more agreeable mode of travel. 



What is called a team is variously composed of from four to 

 six, and even eight oxen. During the months of November and 

 December, after the ground and swamps are frozen, and early 

 snows fall, our team is attached to a " long sled," loaded with 

 provisions, tools, &c., accompanied with a new recruit of hands. 

 Leaving home and the scenes of civilization, slowly we move for- 

 ward to join those who had preceded us to make preparations 

 for our reception. After several days' journeyings, putting up 

 at night at places erected and supplied for the convenience of 

 such travelers, and at suitable distances on the route, we finally 

 reach our new home. Our arrival is no less agreeable to our- 

 selves than welcome to our comrades. But there are incidents 

 scattered all the way along, and seldom do we perform such a 

 journey without experiencing something worth relating. 



On one occasion, late in the fall, we started for our winter 

 quarters up river. We had traveled about one hundred miles, 

 passing along up' the military road, then south upon the Calais 

 road to Baskahegan Lake, which we were to cross, our camps 

 being on the opposite side. We reached the borders of the lake 

 late in the afternoon. The ice was not so thickly frozen as was 

 anticipated, so that the practicability of crossing seemed exceed- 

 ingly problematical. Having been long on the way, we were 

 anxious, if possible, to arrive in camp that night. The shores of 



