Trails that Cross in the Snow 115 
beyond the stub on the straight side of the semicircle, 
and their commoosie was all ready. Let the storm roar 
and the snow sift down! The thicker it fell the warmer 
would be their shelter. They laughed and shouted now 
as they scurried out and in, bringing boughs for a bed 
and the fire-wood which Mooka had gathered. 
Against the base of the dry stub they built their fire, 
— a wee, sociable little fire such as an Indian always 
builds, which is far better than a big one, for it draws 
you near and welcomes you cheerily, instead of driving 
you away by its smoke and great heat. Soon the big 
stub itself began to burn, glowing steadily with a heat 
that filled the snug little commoosie , while the smoke 
found its way out of the hole in the roof which Noel 
had left for that purpose. Later the stub burned 
through to its hollow center, and then they had a 
famous chimney, which soon grew hot and glowing 
inside, and added its mite to the children’s comfort. 
Noel and Mooka were drowsy now; but before the 
long night closed in upon them they had gathered more 
wood, and laid aside some wisps of birch bark to use 
when they should wake, cold and shivering, and find 
their little fire gone out and the big stub losing its 
cheery glow. Then they lay down to rest, and the 
night and the storm rolled on unheeded. 
Towards morning they fell into a heavy sleep; for 
the big stub began to burn more freely as the wind 
