330 TuE Aroostook Woops. 
and their leaves, under and over it, take down our now useless 
jack-light arrangement, extinguish the fires, Commodore and 
crew lift the birch bark well off the shore, and we are once 
more floating out upon the stream. Around the island and 
away we go through the darkness now on the way for camp, 
more heavily laden and a little more muscle is employed, 
yet no heavy labor is required to go quickly, moving by the 
dark growth that shows us plainly each side of the stream. 
Around the many turns, through the narrows and out upon 
the lake again where it is much lighter and we feel the breeze 
freshen upon our faces as we point the bark toward the camp- 
ing ground. Shaping our course by the higher lands and 
tallest trees which are now easily seen, we dip the paddles 
both at the same time, and so evenly from habit, that it is a 
slight disturbance to find either out of time, and if so, quickly 
we catch the stroke again; and like machinery that is true and 
perfect in its working, as we apply the power the bark again 
moves smooth and evenly over the waves; fast or slow, as 
impelled by the strength of the regular strokes of the paddles. 
And now just before us are the well known tall tops of the 
evergreens outlined upon the sky by the first light of another 
day’s breaking, showing the vicinity of, and soon spots of our 
white canvass between the trees, assures us a resting place 
which is very welcome this morning after our long pull over 
the waters. 
After a cup of coffee and a venison steak we get a little 
sleep, and then as the sailors say, ‘‘all hands on deck for 
duty.” 
Our meat after hanging in the trees 2 day or two to become 
a little tender, we prepare the greater part of it for smoking 
and drying. It is cut from the bone in suitable sized pieces, 
