48 A SPORTING PARADISE 



to ourselves the comforts of a warm fire and 

 shelter. The surprise we felt upon finding our 

 home covered with 4 ft. of snow was beyond 

 description. My friend's face was a picture of 

 misery. He had been looking forward to a 

 snug log-hut, and the romance of a lodging in 

 the wilderness. However, we worked hard to 

 put matters right, and after supper we became 

 quite jolly. 



The first step towards making a winter camp 

 is to shovel out the snow from a space of about 

 20 ft. square ; using the snow-shoes as shovels. 

 On two opposite sides of the square space of 

 ground thus cleared of snow, walls 2 or 3 feet 

 in height are made of logs, and slanting poles 

 over these are stuck in the snow to support 

 the roof. The fire is made in the centre, and 

 on each side of it a thick coating of young 

 fir-boughs is laid down for seats and beds. 

 But the great institution is the fire : when it 

 burns brightly, the camp is warm and comfort- 

 able ; when it gets low, the cold penetrates 

 through everything. Dry spruce and pine are 

 recommended for kindling, but the great main- 

 stay is green hardwood. Rock or bird's-eye 

 maple is the best, beech and black birch rank 



