WINTER IN THE BACKWOODS 261 



shoes, but though the woods supplied us with 

 good frames, our efforts were not crowned with 

 much success. One shoe would apparently go 

 well, and then the other would double up. It 

 was nearly dark before we completed one pair. 

 The evening was mild, and we slept comfortably 

 with a small fire. 



Next day the travelling was even impossible 

 for snow-shoes. Food and ammunition were 

 nearly exhausted. We had the good luck during 

 the afternoon to shoot a large rabbit that stole 

 up to inspect the camp. This so-called rabbit 

 was in reality a hare, but when cooked we found 

 the flesh very dry and hard. Herbert remarked 

 that it was like eating wood, and considering the 

 staple food of these hares during the winter 

 consists almost entirely of young twigs, his 

 conclusions were not far short of the mark. I 

 have heard of starving men chewing shoe-leather, 

 so when we strove to add more hares to our 

 larder it cannot be wondered at. It was difficult 

 to reach the hare-runs, but having plenty of time 

 at our disposal we persevered until some half 

 a dozen traps had been set. These traps con- 

 sisted of a noose placed in a slanting position on 

 a pronged stick to keep it firm. The end was 



