semicircle, and their commoosic was all ready. 

 Let the storm roar and the snow sift down! 

 The thicker it fell the warmer would be their 

 shelter. They laughed and shouted now as 

 they scurried out and in, bringing boughs 

 for a bed and the fire-wood which Mooka 

 had gathered. 



Against the base of the dry stub they 

 built their fire, — a wee, sociable little fire 

 such as an Indian always builds, which is 

 far better than a big one, for it draws you 

 near and welcomes you cheerily, instead of 

 driving you away by its smoke and great 

 heat. Soon the big stub itself began to burn, 

 glowing steadily with a heat that filled the 

 snug little commoosie, while the smoke found 

 its way out of the hole in the roof which 

 Noel had left for that purpose. Later the 

 stub burned through to its hollow center, 

 and then they had a famous chimney, which 

 soon grew hot and glowing inside, and added 

 its mite to the children's comfort. 



Noel and Mooka were drowsy now; but 

 before the long night closed in upon them 

 they had gathered more wood, and laid aside 



155 



7ra/7s fftaf Cross 

 fnMeJnow 



