LANDMARKS 141 



So chilled was I, that my benumbed condition 

 did not shake off even after much kicking and arm- 

 swinging in the cabin. Some of my muscles when 

 moved had a feeling akin to that of "my foot is 

 asleep." 



After special attention to my right hand it re- 

 vived sufficiently to clasp the hatchet handle, but 

 half an hour must have elapsed after my arrival 

 at the cabin before a few small chunks were hacked 

 from a fallen tree. With these and pitch splinters 

 from my pocket I attempted to start a fire in the 

 old fireplace of the cabin. 



One end of each pitch sphnter was hammered 

 into a brush-like condition. But my benumbed 

 fingers would not hold a match. A number of 

 matches were poured on the floor and a frosted 

 thumb and finger tried in vain to clutch one. Ly- 

 ing on the floor and trying with both hands also 

 was a failure. In desperation I tried to pick up 

 a match between my chattering teeth. After 

 mashing my cold, stiffened lips, I got the match 

 into position at one side of my mouth. The 

 match was lighted by scratching it across a stone 

 with a turn of my head. With lips scorching, I 

 rolled over and brought the blazing match in con- 

 tact with the pitch splinters. These instantly and 

 eagerly blazed up. 



I made special efforts, after this nip-and-tuck 

 experience, to learn the best ways of fire starting 

 when both weather and fuel conditions were un- 



