AN AMATEUR IN THE NORTH WOODS. 165 



of logs, halved together at the ends, like a log house ; the 

 interstices filled with clay or moss, and the roof covered with 

 bark or split logs. These are intended for more permanent 

 use, and are built by those who regularly frequent certain 

 localities in the woods. 



Night drew on. We had barely time to settle ourselves in 

 our new habitation, build our fire, and eat our supper, before 

 darkness overtook us, and we prepared for bed. Our couch 

 was of the most primitive character. A pile of green hem- 

 lock boughs, laid upon the bare earth, constituted both bed 

 and bedstead, sheets and coverlets. The only addition to 

 the rather meagre simplicity of this arrangement was a light 

 woolen blanket, for use in an unusually cool night. New- 

 house, indeed, had provided himself with an enormous bag, a 

 sort of cul de sac of Canton flannel, into which he crept at 

 night very much as a woodchuck ensconces himself in his 

 hole. But I disdained all such artificial appliances. Having 

 turned woodsman, I resolved to make a clean thing of it ; and 

 throwing myself upon my rude couch, with a bag of Indian 

 meal for a pillow, in five minutes I was sleeping as sound as 

 though reposing on the downiest of beds, and with the softest 

 of pillows. 



My repose, however, was not destined to be uninterrupted. 

 At midnight the chilliness of the air awoke me. I drew my 

 blanket closer around me and tried to compose myself to sleep, 

 but in vain. The novelty of my situation and the unusual 

 sounds which attracted my attention were not at all favorable 

 to slumber. I could hear the distant howling of wolves on 

 the sides of the hill, at the foot of which we were encamped. 

 Then, as I listened, I heard the underbrush crackle, and 

 heavy footsteps tramped though the thicket but a few feet 

 from my head, .in the rear of the hut. What was it? A 

 bear? or panther? or wolf? All these animals abound in 

 the North Woods, and the tread was too heavy to have been 

 made by a beast of less magnitude. I reached for my rifle, 

 which stood at my head, and peered steadfastly out into the 

 darkness, but could distinguish nothing. Meanwhile the foot- 

 steps had died away in the distance, and my nocturnal visitant 



