192 NARRATIVES. 



mation of the popular statement that beavers strengthen 

 their dams by a curve or angle up-streau. Some of the dams 

 we saw were straight, and some curved down-stream, but not 

 one curved or cornered up-stream. 



u HOW TO ' SHANTY.' 



" When night overtook us in the midst of our boat-dragging, 

 the old trapper would say, ' It is time to shanty.' By this 

 he did not mean that it was time for us to go into a shanty, 

 for there was no shanty within miles of us. He simply meant 

 that it was time for us to prepare for the night. The ap- 

 proved method of ' shantying ' in this sense, as we learned 

 it from several experiments under Mr. Hutchins's instruc- 

 tion, shall be minutely described ; and ought to be carefully 

 studied by all who are liable to be caught out in the woods in. 

 cold weather, with no lodging-place but the ground under the 

 stars. 



" A party at work or on the march in the woods ought to 

 stop and prepare for night at least an hour before dark ; as the 

 work to be done is not trifling, nor can it be done without 

 light. 



" The first matter to be attended to is the selection of a 

 suitable place. Any smooth spot under the trees near your 

 line of march might seem to be good enough ; especially if 

 you are tired, and shivering with wet feet and wet clothes, 

 and want fire and supper as soon as possible. But, if you 

 choose thus in a hurry, you may repent. You have a big 

 load of substantial wood to prepare for your night's fire, 

 and you must have reference to this in locating your camp. 

 Soft-wood trees, such as hemlock and cedar, are good for 

 nothing ; and you must not think of trusting to dead limbs 

 and brushwood. A fire made of these may boil a pot and 

 give you a momentary comfort ; but what you want is a huge, 

 solid log-fire that will take care of you for hours together, and 

 allow you to sleep in peace. You must find a spot where there 

 are hard-wood trees, such as maple, beech, iron-wood, or 

 birch, which you can fell right beside your fire-place. Other- 

 wise you will have to conclude your day's work with some 



