IN QUEST OF TREASURE 59 



no difficulty in determining the north at any time, as the woods 

 were full of signs. For instance, the branches of trees had a 

 general tendency to be less numerous and shorter on the north 

 side, and the bark on the north side was usually finer in texture 

 and of a smoother surface. Also moss was more often found on 

 the north side of vertical trees. The tops of pine trees usually 

 leant toward the southeast — but that that was not always a 

 sure sign in all localities, as in some places the tree tops were 

 affected by the prevailing winds. The stumps of trees fur- 

 nished a surer indication. They showed the rings of growth 

 to be greater in thickness on the north side. When trees were 

 shattered by lightning, the cracks more often opened on the 

 south side for lightning generally struck from that direction. 

 Snow was usually deeper on the south side of trees on account 

 of the prevailing northerly winds; and if one dug away the crust 

 from around a tree they would come to fine, granulated snow 

 much sooner on the north side, thus proving where the shadow 

 usually fell. Furthermore, as the snowdrifts always pointed 

 in the direction whither the wind had gone, knowing the direc- 

 tion of the prevailing winds, one had no trouble in locating 

 the north even on the snow-covered surface of a great lake. 



The old woodman cautioned me that if, while travelling 

 alone upon a big lake, I should be overtaken by a blizzard, 

 in no case should I try to fight it, but stop right in my tracks, 

 take off my snowshoes, dig a hole in the snow, turn my sled 

 over on its side to form a wind-break, crawl into the hole with 

 the dogs, and wait until the storm subsided. If a blizzard 

 came head-on it was useless to try to fight it, for it would easily 

 win ; but if the wind were fair and if one were still sure of his 

 bearings, he might drift with the wind, although at heavy risk, 

 as the wind is apt to change its course and the tripper lose his 

 way. There was always one consolation, however, and that 

 was that the greater the storm the sooner it was over. Another 

 thing I should remember when travelling on a lake or over an 



