ocate the north in case I happened to be travelling
on a cloudy day without a compass, the old hunter replied, that though
he never used a compass, he found no difficulty in determining the
north at any time, as the woods were full of signs. For instance, the
branches of trees had a general tendency to be less numerous and
shorter on the north side, and the bark on the north side was usually
finer in texture and of a smoother surface. Also moss was more often
found on the north side of vertical trees. The tops of pine trees
usually leant toward the southeast--but that that was not always a sure
sign in all localities, as in some places the tree tops were affected
by the prevailing winds. The stumps of trees furnished a surer
indication. They showed the rings of growth to be greater in thickness
on the north side. When trees were shattered by lightning, the cracks
more often opened on the south side for lightning generally struck from
that direction. Snow was usually deeper on the south side of trees on
account of the prevailing northerly winds; and if one dug away the
crust from around a tree they would come to fine, granulated snow much
sooner on the north side, thus proving where the shadow usually fell.
Furthermore, as the snowdrifts always pointed in the direction whither
the wind had gone, knowing the direction of the prevailing winds, one
had no trouble in locating the north even on the snow-covered surface
of a great lake.

The old woodman cautioned me that if, while travelling alone upon a big
lake, I should be overtaken by a blizzard, in no case should I try to
fight it, but stop right in my tracks, take off my snowshoes, dig a
hole in the snow, turn my sled over on its side to form a wind-break,
crawl into the hole with the dogs, and wait until the storm subsided.
If a blizzard came head-on it was useless to try to fight it, for it
would easily win; but if the wind were fair and if one were still sure
of his bearings, he might drift with the wind, although at heavy risk,
as the wind is apt to change its course and the tripper lose his way.
There was always one consolation, however, and that was that the
greater the storm the sooner it was over. Another thing I should
remember when travelling on a lake or over an open country, in a
violent snow-storm--I should allow for drifting, much in the same way
as one would if travelling by canoe.

By that time, however, the women and children had gone to sleep u