at the wearer could
completely protect his features. Mittens they made from pelts of the
muskrat. Moccasins were cut extra large and high, and lined with fur of
the hare. Heavy rawhide dog-whips and buckskin gun-cases completed the
simple winter outfit.

But still there remained the question of sustenance. Game would be
scarce and uncertain in the cold months.

It was now seven weeks since Dick's accident. Cautiously, with many
pauses, he began to rest weight on the injured foot. Thanks to the
treatment of massage and manipulation, the joint was but little
stiffened. Each day it gained in strength. Shortly Dick was able to
hobble some little distance, always with the aid of a staff, always
heedfully. As yet he was far from the enjoyment of full freedom of
movement, but by expenditure of time and perseverance he was able to
hunt in a slow, patient manner. The runways where the caribou came to
drink late in the evening, a cautious float down-stream as far as the
first rapids, or even a plain sitting on a log in the hope that game
would chance to feed within range--these methods persisted in day after
day brought in a fair quantity of meat.

Of the meat they made some jerky for present consumption by the dogs,
and, of course, they ate fresh as much as they needed. But most went
into pemmican. The fat was all cut away, the lean sliced thin and dried
in the sun. The result they pounded fine, and mixed with melted fat and
the marrow, which, in turn, was compressed while warm into air-tight
little bags. A quantity of meat went into surprisingly little pemmican.
The bags were piled on a long-legged scaffolding out of the reach of
the dogs and wild animals.

The new husky and Billy had promptly come to teeth, but Billy had held
his own, much to Dick Herron's satisfaction. The larger animal was a
bitch, so now all dwelt together in amity. During the still hunt they
were kept tied in camp, but the rest of the time they prowled about.
Never, however, were they permitted to leave the clearing, for that
would frighten the game. At evening they sat in an expectant row,
awaiting the orderly distribution of their evening meal. Somehow they
added much to the man-feel of the camp. With their coming the atmosphere
of men as opposed to the atmosphere of the wilderness had strengthened.
On this side was the human habitation, busy at its own affairs, creating
about itself a definite something in the forest, unknown before,
preparing quie