X 
THE BEAR 
357 
to two spruce firs; against this, leaning at an angle 
of about 45°, were sixty or seventy straight poles laid 
close together, and upon these were arranged spruce 
boughs to form a thatch. This lean-to provided 
a tolerable shelter within the forest, when the 
wind was sufficiently considerate to blow at the 
back against the thatch, instead of direct towards the 
open face. The ground in the acute angle was 
strewed with branches of spruce, and a large fire 
was kept burning during night, exactly in front, the 
whole arrangement exhibiting the principle of a 
Dutch oven. 
In such a camp. Big Bill received the stranger 
with the hospitality of the wilderness, and they laid 
themselves down to rest in the close companionship 
of newly-made friends. 
The morning broke, and as Big Bill rubbed his 
eyes with mute astonishment, he could not see his 
friend. He rose from his sleeping-place, and went 
outside in the cold morning air; he could not see 
his horses. A horrible suspicion seized upon him ; 
he searched the immediate neighbourhood; the 
animals had vanished, . both horses and mules 
were gone, together with the unknown stranger, 
to whom he had given food and shelter for the 
night. 
Fortunately there was a particular horse v/hich 
Big Bill for special reasons kept separate from the 
rest; this animal was picqueted by itself among the 
spruce firs at some little distance, and had been 
unobserved by the departed stranger. To saddle 
