THE MOOSE 35 



mile, through an open forest, the ground being 

 quite free from under-brush and dead timber, and 

 covered with a carpet of thick moss, in which 

 the feet sank noiselessly. Then we came to 

 another beaver-meadow, which offered fine feed 

 for the ponies. On its edge we hastily pitched 

 camp, just at dusk. We tossed down the packs 

 in a dry grove, close to the brook, and turned 

 the tired ponies loose in the meadow, hobbling 

 the little mare that carried the bell. The ground 

 was smooth. We threw a cross-pole from one 

 to the other of two young spruces which happened 

 to stand handily, and from it stretched and 

 pegged out a piece of canvas, which we were 

 using as a shelter tent. Beneath this we spread 

 our bedding, laying under it the canvas sheets 

 in which it had been wrapped. There was still 

 bread left over from yesterday's baking, and in 

 a few moments the kettle was boiling and the 

 frying-pan sizzling, while one of us skinned and 

 cut into suitable pieces two grouse we had 

 knocked over on our march. For fear of 

 frightening the moose we built but a small fire, 

 and went to bed soon after supper, both being 

 tired and cold. 



u At dawn I was awake, and crawled out of my 



