THE WINTER WOODS 165 



Nez could liiive easily bought woollen caps and coats 

 for them in the Ridge village, but he loved simple, 

 wild ways and things, and understood the turning of a 

 skin directly into a coat better than the indirect way of 

 first changing it for money and then buying the needed 

 garment. 



" Step right in by the fire," said Nez, leading the 

 way to tlie cabin. Then for the first time the boys 

 realized that they were quite cold, — the excitement 

 and novelty of their journey had kept them from feel- 

 ing it before. 



The cabin was very warm, for two fires were burn- 

 ing in a space that was scarcely more than one large 

 room divided by the stone chimney. In one fireplace 

 logs were blazing, in the other stood a small sheet-iron 

 stove, upon which Toinette was preparing dinner, stir- 

 ring something with a wooden spoon that yielded a 

 delicious " have-some-more " odor. 



" Last winter we had a regular campfire on the 

 ground in the middle and just a roof draught for the 

 smoke, but we get too much rain along spring and fall 

 in these parts for that sort of chimney, though there's 

 nothing like a fire where you can sit all the way 

 around." 



" Vill you now eat sometings, m'sieurs ? " said 

 Toinette, hospitably, making a gesture toward the 

 plank table, which they then noticed was set with an 

 idea of festivity. Ground pine hung in festoons about 

 the edge and was arranged in a sort of mat in the 

 centre, figured with bunches and sprays of red berries. 



"Yes, better feed now," said Nez, "if you want a 

 little sport this afternoon, 'cause 'long about dark we 



