red, pointing them so
that we could run them deep into the earth. A little way off there was
an abundance of bark, which, seizing, we quickly dragged up to the spot.

Hurrying out of the wood again as fast as we could, in a short time we
had a roughly-formed hut erected, sufficient to turn off the rain. The
spot was almost completely sheltered from the wind, so that we had no
fear about lighting a fire. At the same time the wood was already so
wet that it cost us some trouble to ignite it. We succeeded at last,
and, drawing it close up to the hut, it afforded us warmth and enabled
us to dry our wet clothes.

The rain soon ceased, but the wind held and whistled in the branches.
The thunder roared, and flashes of lightning illumined the dark sky. We
had reason to be thankful that we were so far protected, and hoped that
we might escape any other falling branches or the effects of the
lightning. Had we ventured to land in a more exposed situation, our
canoe might at any moment have been blown off into the river, while we
could neither have put up a hut nor have lighted a fire.

We sat on hour after hour, hoping that the storm would cease. The
ground was too damp to allow us to lie down with any prospect of
comfort; but we had some pieces of bark which afforded us seats, and had
we had time to get larger pieces we might have rested with more comfort.

Thus the night passed away, but when daylight returned the storm was
blowing with as much fury as before. Though we saw masses of leaves and
branches flying over our heads, none of the latter fell into our
sheltered little nook. We agreed that it would be wise to remain where
we were.

Alick employed himself, with Martin's assistance, in making a pair of
moccasins, which, though rough and ugly, were calculated to protect his
feet from the thorns and splinters he might step upon in the forest. I
mended my shoes, patching them with small pieces of bearskin; but they
would not have served for a long walk. Robin improved one of the
paddles, which had been roughly cut out at first.

Thus we passed the greater part of the morning seated before our fire,
except when we were cooking and eating some bear's flesh to satisfy our
hunger.

We had formed also two lookout holes at the back of our hut, through
which we could watch should any deer or other animals come near, which
we thought it possible they might do for the sake of the shelter it
afforded. Robin was contin