HUMAN NATURE ON THE RIVER 25 



equal parts. The stove, the canoe, the lamp, the 

 spade, were broken relentlessly and savagely into four 

 parts — four piles of useless rubbish. The shanty was 

 divided in four. One man had some candles of his own 

 bringing. These he kept and carefully screened off his 

 comer of the room so no chance rays might reach the 

 others to comfort them; they spent the winter in 

 darkness. None spoke to the other, and they parted, 

 singly and silently, hatefully as ever, as soon as the 

 springtime opened the way. 



