AT GORDON’S CAMP 19 
quarters were small, and every bunk was taken. 
If I myself wished to stay, perhaps one of the men 
would share his bed with me. It was also out of the 
question to accommodate the horses. The hovel, 
as the backwoods stable is called, was full; and 
with the temperature far below zero, it would be 
impossible to stand the animals outside during the 
night. 
After a hasty supper, my teamster and our guide 
said good-bye and started back to the settlement. 
It was to be a moonlight night and they would 
have no trouble in getting out. My driver prom- 
ised to return for me next day if no storm should 
come up in the meantime to block the roads. I 
had come a long way for this bear-story and I did 
not intend to go home without it. 
At sundown the men came in from their work. 
Your lumberman has but few idle moments in his 
programme; he is up before dawn, and, as soon as 
it is light enough to swing an axe, begins his day’s 
work. An hour off at noon, and then till sunset his 
labor goes on. 
The biggest man ‘in camp offered to share his bed 
with me, and it was after midnight before we re- 
tired. I was an eager listener to many backwoods 
stories told that evening round the ramdown stove. 
Once there came.an interruption.;I could hear the 
wailing of the little bear in the woman’s quarters. 
