t feel inclined to return without food, so take care to have a good
fire burning to roast it by."

"But I say, don't go off with the axe," exclaimed Martin, as Alick was
walking away with it stuck in his belt. "We cannot cut down the poles
without it, or strip off the bark from the trees."

Alick handed the axe to Martin, who, giving a flourish with it,
observed, "We shall have work enough for this fellow to do, but I must
take care to keep its edge sharp."

Alick and Robin set off with their guns, while Martin and I commenced
the work we had undertaken. We at first collected sticks and had a fire
blazing in an open spot from which we had cleared off all the grass for
fear of its igniting the surrounding herbage and producing a
conflagration--no unusual occurrence in the woods. The feeling of
hunger made us very active, for we hoped that Alick and Robin would soon
return with some game. As they did not appear, we cut down a number of
poles and fixed them up on a spot a little distance from the river,
towards which the ground gradually sloped down. Having secured all
together at the top, the framework of our hut was complete.

We had then to obtain some slabs of birch-bark. Several lay on the
ground stripped off by the wind. Many of these we found lying at the
foot of the trees, and though unfitted for building a canoe, they were
very well suited for our present purpose. We worked so diligently that
we completely covered our wigwam. We now began to look out anxiously
for the return of our companions, our hunger reminding us that it was
high time for them to be back. While we were working we had not thought
so much about it. I had thrown myself down on the grass, having
finished my labours.

"Come!" said Martin, who was always very active; "if game is not brought
to us, I vote we go in search of it," and seizing his gun he made his
way amid the trees.

I followed him. Presently I heard him fire, and directly afterwards I
caught sight of a squirrel on a high branch. Taking good aim, I brought
it down, and was soon joined by Martin, who had shot a couple of
wood-pigeons. We hurried back to the camp, stripped the birds of their
feathers, skinned the squirrel, and soon had them roasting before the
fire.

"Our friends will be well pleased not to have to wait for their supper,"
said Martin, as he quickly turned round the wood-pigeons on the spit.

They were soon cooked, and unable to resist the gnawings o