hard work to keep his eyes open during the night and possibly would
have dropped off to sleep but he heard the water swashing against an
occasional snag of which he had a wholesome dread.

Day broke cold and chilly with the same threatening sky as had darkened
the heavens the night before. Head winds fretted him and he felt cold
and miserable. Toward evening, utterly tired out, he began looking for a
camping place. There was no sound of life. Below he saw a belt of
timber which looked promising and just as he struck out for it, he was
surprised to discover on his right, at the edge of a small bit of
prairie, a log cabin. He immediately sounded the bugle, but there was no
response. Note after note failed to stir up any signs of life, so he
headed for the place pulling vigorously to clear the swift current which
he was compelled to cross. He reached a muddy shore scantily mixed
with sand, which extended a considerable distance from the bank. He
landed and on testing the soil with his foot found it unstable.
Fearing another mud suck, he put the Baby down and made his way with
quick steps to the cabin, the soil bending under him like rotten ice. He
then saw that the hut had long been deserted. Grass grew high and rank
all around it, while elk and deer antlers, bleached white by the sun,
were strewn everywhere and strips of blackened deer skin were nailed
over the chinks in the door. Pushing his way in he stood in a single
room with a big fire place at one side and two rude bunks covered with
old hay.

Paul was delighted with his find. Here was a royal shelter from the
threatening storm and a famous place to take much needed rest. He
felt himself a king in his palace. Going outside, he gathered several
pieces of wood which he placed one after another on the treacherous
soil making a series of steps to the water's edge, on which he could
walk without so much danger of sinking. Shouldering the Baby, he soon
had her safely deposited in the cabin and then removing his suit,
gathered a big supply of wood which he stowed on one side of the fire
place, closed and fastened the door securely, just as the storm broke
with considerable fury. Over a blazing fire he cooked an excellent
supper, which was eaten with a keen appetite, filled his pipe and
threw himself on a pile of hay which covered a portion of the floor
between the fireplace and bunks, that was boarded. There he reposed,
toa