32 WIIKRE THE SPORTSMAN LOVES TO LIXCER. 



cured. Along the sliore lino of all tlio lakes of Maine dry 

 wood aliounds, cast there by tlie ravages of time. The win- 

 ter and Slimmer storms and high Avater play havoc with 

 the tindjer along tlu^ shores of the lakes; conseqmMitly, no 

 matter where you camp, dry wood is there — not a i)unky. 

 rotten log, hut Avood as ''sound as a dollar" and '"dry as a 

 bone/' and of all sizes, ready to cook your daylight meal 

 and for the cani])dire in the stilly night. 



Of all the lii-ew(h)(l for the caniju'r, the most necessary 

 is the bark of the birch; without that, many a cold meal 

 A\'oul(l lia\(' liecn eaten and many a caiii]>-lire nev(4' lighted. 

 Xo matter what the w(vitlier conditions, the birch bark will 

 l)urn. It is easily secured ; \\ ith a ''ri]) up the back'' it read- 

 ily peals from the tree, and is as inllammable as kerosene. 

 The guid(>s soon had amjtle lirewood in si oik, and tli(Mi they 

 attacked the boxes and bags of ])r()visi()ns. In making a 

 canoe trip oik* is naturally ex])osed to all kinds of weather, 

 so your ])r(»visi()ns are ]uicked with that contingency in 

 view. Anything that water would injure is protected by 

 Avater]>roof matcM-ial. Sugar, tea, coffee and the like are 

 put up in little waterproof bags, which are then put in a 

 larger bag. In our long ti-i]> bags of ])rovend(^r fell into 

 the water ^^ ithout any a])parent damage to their contents. 



A well-cooked, bcmntiful meal was soon at our dis])Osal, 

 and as the sun sank amidst the dense forest the camp-tire 

 was lighted. Around the camp-tires on our long trip the 

 Indians interested and amused us with reminiscences of 

 their Ha'cs. In the streams and woods the Great Spirit 

 provided OATrything for them. The Avild aninuils gaA^e him 

 rations and raiment. From the bark of the birch tree he 

 made his canoe; Avith the bow, arrow and tomahaAAdv he 

 procured his game; from friction he obtained fire; from 

 bark and poles he made his house; herbs Avere his medicine; 



