Without wasting time in vain cussing 

 or discussing, Bige at once set to work 

 building a fire on the gravelly beach of 

 the brook. This was one of those occa- 

 sions when a waterproof match box 

 proved useful. But one should also know 

 how to build a fire in the woods without 

 matches. Any Boy Scout can tell you 

 how to do it. 



Nature has provided curly birch bark 

 for kindling, for just such emergencies 

 as this, and it is usually dry on the lee- 

 ward side of the tree. In a few minutes 

 a roaring, crackling fire was going, and 

 our clothing as much of it as native 

 modesty would permit was hanging on 

 saplings which we had cut and stuck in 

 the ground about the fire. 



While this work was under way I 

 strung up my rod, went up the brook 

 into the edge of the woods, and in a deep 

 hole caught some trout. I got six fine 

 ones in about twice as many casts. 



Bige dressed the fish while I got some 

 striped maple leaves. They are about as 



8 



