142 THE PINE-TREE, OR 



adventure — all extremely fat — the largest of which, it is com- 

 puted, would weigh upward of two hundred and fifty pounds. We 

 have seldom heard of a more dangerous encounter with bears, 

 and we are happy to say that Mr. Burke received no injury ; and 

 Mr. Jacob Harrison, although torn severely, and having three ribs 

 broken, recovered under the care of an Indian doctor of the Al- 

 gonquin tribe." 



CHAPTER VII. 



Provision Teams. — Liabilities. — A Night in the Woods. — Traveling on Ice. — 

 A Span of Horses lost. — Pat's Adventure. — Drogers' Caravan. — Horses ia 

 the Water. — Recoveiy of a sunken Load. — Returning Volunteers from 

 Aroostook. — Description of a Log Tavern. — Perils on Lakes in Suow-storms. 

 — Camping at Night. — Rude Ferry-boats. 



After the swamps, rivers, and lakes freeze, and the fallen 

 snow has covered the ground, supplies for the rest of the winter 

 and spring operations, consisting of hay, grain, flour, beef, pork, 

 molasses, &c., are hauled on to the ground with horse-teams. In 

 some instances the route extends two hundred and fifty miles 

 from the head of ship navigation. As these routes, for the most 

 part, lay through dense forests, over rough roads, along the fro- 

 zen channels of rivers, across bleak and expansive lakes, far re- 

 moved from the fireside and home of the hardy logger, there is 

 something of the liardsliips of adventure, if not its romance, con- 

 nected with the experience of these transporting teams during 

 their winter trips. 



Sometimes loaded sleds break down in their passage over the 

 rough forest roads, or horses tire by extra exertion over untrod- 

 den snows, and night overtakes the lone teamster, many miles 

 from the abode of any human being, amid frosts and snow, with- 



