"It is the most sublime scene I ever beheld," declared Shad. "One
glimpse of it is worth all the trouble we've had in getting here."

The river gradually widened, but always with a strong current, even
above the heavy white rapids, until some five miles above the falls it
expanded into a large island-dotted lake. At the extreme lower end of
this lake the old Indian portage trail was discovered, and following
it the explorers late in the day reached their camp.

The following weeks were devoted to the erection of tilts--small log
cabins to be used in winter as shelter. One was established well up
the shores of the large lake expansion above the falls, another upon
the shores of the lake from which they had made their excursion to the
falls, and still another upon the first lake above the river tilt of
the Big Hill trail, while to the northward near other lakes four other
tilts were erected, at convenient distances apart, for Ed's use.

These tilts were all constructed upon the same general plan. They were
on an average about eight by ten feet in size, with a slightly sloping
roof so low in the rear Bob could scarcely stand erect.

The chinks between the logs were filled with caribou moss. The roof
logs were covered with boughs, over which was spread first a blanket
of moss and then a coating of six inches of earth. Each was provided
with a doorway about four feet in height and two and a half feet wide,
which was fitted with a door constructed of lashed saplings covered
with bark.

Within, a platform of flat stones was arranged to accommodate the
sheet-iron stove, with a stove-pipe hole through the roof directly
over it.

Long, springy saplings were utilised in erecting bunks at the rear and
along the side of the tilt opposite the stove. These were later to be
covered with spruce boughs, and would serve both as beds and seats,
and were elevated some eighteen inches above the earth floor.

"They'll be warm an' snug," said Bob. "When frosty weather an' winter
comes th' snow soon banks un up an' covers un up, roof and all, and
makes un good an' tight."

"But how do you get air enough to breathe?" asked Shad.

"Th' stove-pipe hole is made plenty big," explained Bob, "an' that
lets th' bad air out, an' we mostly has a snow tunnel leadin' t' th'
door so th' wind won't strike in, an' leavin' th' door off, th' good
air comes in."

Nearly four weeks had been consumed in this work, and without waiting
for the reappe