Sintamaskin 



from the end of it the pail of water was hung 

 over the flames. This was to make the tea, 

 universal comfort and mainstay of the so- 

 journer in the wilderness. The tin cups and 

 plates were spread upon the green boughs ; a 

 plate of cold bacon and pork was set near the 

 fire to warm ; a loaf of bread was cut into 

 generous slices, which were toasted at the 

 flames upon the ends of sharpened sticks; 

 and in an incredibly short time since it was 

 beginning to seem that this was a pretty 

 bleak place after all, we were basking in the 

 warmth of a roaring fire, and partaking heart- 

 ily of hot drink and smoking food. Then 

 pipes, lit with hot coals, were never better, 

 and at last we rose, strengthened and re- 

 freshed, ready to set out upon the long tramp 

 home, more than ten miles away. It would 

 be long past nightfall before we reached it; 

 but the hills on our homeward trail sloped 

 downward, the moon would be high in a 

 cloudless heaven, and though weary we should 

 be happy : so the rapidly lengthening sha- 

 dows gave us no uneasiness as we turned our 

 faces away from Sintamaskin. 

 When next I came it was in the blue and 



golden haze of a sunny September afternoon. 



149 



