IN A LOG-HUT. 75 
should be made till a favorite neighborhood was reached, 
alike beautiful in summer or winter. Moreover, here we 
should find a log-hut, erected two seasons previously, and 
which we had every reason to believe would be in a thor- 
ough state of repair. In due course of time we arrived at 
our rendezvous ; the snow was cleared out of the structure, 
and, considering all things, the two Penobscot Indians who 
accompanied us succeeded in making our temporary resi- 
dence look more than inviting. The first night passed in 
the usual manner; we each pledged the other’s health more 
than once, and again and again requited our pipes with 
tobacco. Still we slept soundly, and day had well broken 
before either turned out. A burried cup of coffee and a 
few morsels of cold meat and biscuit sufficed for breakfast, 
so that ere the sun had risen over the neighboring hill we 
were en route for the scene of action. The country that 
we traversed was covered, but not densely crowded, with 
hard wood—so open, in fact, that a fair shot would severe- 
ly have punished woodcock which had taken shelter in a 
similar locality. After tramping three miles, the Indians 
leading, and I causing much amusement by a succession of 
catastrophes from one snow-shoe overlapping the other, 
a halt was made, and the expression of the guide spoke 
plainly of the vicinity of game; without questioning, we 
turned off to the left, still following in single file. Stoop- 
ing low and slowly advancing for some moments, we came 
upon a yard—but, alas! deserted; but such had not been 
long the case. Our dark-skinned companions were jubilant ; 
visions of moose-meat floated before them, and straight 
they directed their steps to the place of exit, for the occu- 
pants had winded us earlier than expected. To a novice 
but one track appeared, yet the Indians held up four fin- 
gers to indicate that number of inmates. Soon we found 
their information correct; for, after a pursuit of an hour 
