ON SNOWSHOES AND DOG-SLEDS 



we could use them they had to be heated. After supper pre- 

 parations were made for the night and for the morrow's 

 tramp. Socks, duifles and moccasins, wet with perspiration 

 from the day's march, were hung up before the fire to dry; 

 robes and blanliets were spread about the camp, and upon 

 them our tired party assembled to enjoy a rest and smoke 

 beside the fire before turning in for the night. Though cold, 

 the night was beautifully calm and clear, and when from 

 time to time the big dry sticks of wood were thrown upon the 

 fire, showers of sparks ascended until they found hiding- 

 places among the dark branches of the overhanging spruce 

 trees. 



Camp-fire stories and gossip were indulged in for an hour, 

 then several logs were thrown upon the fire, and each man, 

 rolled up in his blanket, and with feet toward the fire, lay 

 do^vn to sleep. There was little sleep for me, however,' 

 because of my knee, which gave me great pain during the 

 night. 



The next morning camp was called at five o'clock, and 

 under the still starlit sky all hands rolled out into the keen 

 frosty morning air. At the first streak of dawn, after break- 

 fast and other preliminaries, our march was resumed. 



It was yet dark in the woods, and to most of us there was 

 no more indication of a trail in one place than in another; 

 but our veteran guide, who possessed all the sagacity of the 

 ideal red man, led the way, and all the rest of us had to do 

 was to follow his tracks. Soon we emerged from the Eastern 

 Woods, and getting into more open country, turned our 

 course toward the south, crossing broad plains, diversified 

 here and there by stunted, scattered trees, ice-covered ponds, 

 and occasionally the thickly wooded valley of a winding 

 stream. As we travelled on my leg caused me intense pain, 

 so that it became impossible to keep up with the train. I 

 hobbled along as well as I could for a time, but finding that 

 I was seriously retarding the progress of the march, arrange- 



205 



