234 HUNTERS OF THE GREAT NORTH 



some humps of two or three crooked logs in the raft. 



After throwing away my fireplace I had to do whatever 

 cooking there was on. shore. The first morning of this 

 cooking I left beside the fireplace on shore my package 

 of tea. This was two or three pounds and far more than 

 I could possibly have needed. I had been carrying it for 

 trade with any Indians I might happen to meet. 



The evening of August 26th I came to a deserted vil- 

 lage just as it was getting dark. The houses appeared as 

 if they might have been inhabited the previous winter 

 and as if the people intended returning to them. Still, 

 the half-dozen cabins were empty of furniture and the 

 doors of some of them open. It had been raining par- 

 ticularly heavily that day and I was soaking wet, so I was 

 glad of the shelter of a roof. The reason I knew the 

 houses were entirely empty was that I went into every 

 one of them in search of a possible blanket or robe that 

 an Indian might have left for me to sleep under. Al- 

 though it was dark, my exploration of each cabin was 

 thorough, but I found no beds or bedding. 



I have said that after my midnight adventure with the 

 rapids I was in the habit of sleeping ashore six hours. 

 Sleeping is merely a courtesy description, for when the 

 wetness due to the afternoon showers was combined with 

 the chill of the night, it kept me from any real sleep. 

 I did get good naps on my craft, however, in the fore- 

 noons while the sun was shining. 



After my night in the deserted village I was up at 

 dawn and made a huge bonfire. It is much easier cook- 

 ing over a small fire but this one was primarily for 

 warmth. As I was finishing breakfast I was startled to 

 hear a voice behind me. On looking around I saw an 

 Indian a few yards away coming up from the river where 



