248 
THE RED MOUNTAIN OF ALASKA. 
by Solomon with his axe. They gave a delightful fra- 
grance to the whole hut. 
As soon as the ladies could sleep indoors, which they 
did with great delight, their tent was used as a smoke- 
room, and dozens of brook trout and grayling, as well as 
slices of bear meat and venison, were prepared for winter 
consumption. Teddy and Nat now spent all their time 
in chinking up the spaces between the logs with moss. 
As the eaves of the huts were not over six feet from the 
ground, this was easily done, although it was a long and 
tedious job. Earth and moss were " banked " against 
the walls on the outside to the height of four feet ; while 
all round the end of the Dutton hut, where the beds 
were, a second wall was made by laying poles up against 
the eaves on the outside, and stuffing the space between 
with boughs and moss. 
The chimneys were Solomon's pride and joy. Using 
clay from the bed of the brook, he stoned up the sides of 
the fireplaces, and laid tolerably smooth hearths. But 
the chimneys were built entirely of small, green poplar 
sticks, laid crosswise, and plastered inside and out with 
all the clay that would stick on. 
Mrs. Dutton was positive that her chimney would burn 
up, together with the whole hut, when the first fire was 
built. Solomon assured her, however, that it would last 
throughout the winter unharmed ; and the result showed 
that he was right. 
A double door was made, with storm entry between. 
