couple of hours. As the hill up which
they were now to go was about as steep as the one down which they had so
quickly come, it was decided to fasten two trains of dogs to each sled.
This, while making the work easier on the dogs, caused considerable
delay. The result was that when the whole party had reached the top
Memotas decided that it would be best there to camp.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

STILL ON THE WAY TO THE BEAVER HOUSE--THE WINTER CAMP IN THE WOODS--WORK
FOR ALL--FEEDING THE DOGS--OUR BOYS GUARDING THEIR OWN TRAINS--THE
EVENING MEAL--BITTER COLD--MILK IN LUMPS OF ICE--EVENING PRAYERS--THE
WINTRY CAMP BED--TUCKED IN--MYSTERIOUS SOUNDS IN THE FOREST--SMOTHERING
SENSATIONS--SAM'S NIGHTMARE--BREAKFAST--TRICKY DOGS--METHODS OF
CAPTURE--CARIOLES AND SLEDS RELOADED--TRAINS HARNESSED--JOURNEY RESUMED.

A Winter camp in the North Land, and the temperature anywhere from
thirty to sixty below zero! cold? Yes, we think so, and so did Frank,
Alec, and Sam, as now they were passing through their first experience.

As was stated in our last chapter, to the guide was always assigned the
responsibility of selecting the camping place. The place here chosen by
Memotas was considered a very good one. First, because there was
abundance of dead, dry trees to serve as fuel. These had been killed a
year or so before by a great forest fire that had run through that
region of country. Second, there was a fine, dense balsam grove that
had escaped the fire. In one part of it there was sufficient space for
the camp. Then, in addition, by cutting down some of the smaller of
these evergreen trees, their branches, finely broken up, would help to
make the bed more comfortable.

These are the essentials for a good camp: plenty of fuel and a sheltered
spot. It is not always easy to find good camping places, so the guide
is generally on the lookout for such localities. The result is his
quick eye and good memory generally enable him to select all the camps
that will be required on a return journey.

When all the sleds were at the spot selected, the first thing done was
to unharness the dogs, the faithful animals that had so well done their
work. It seemed at first strange to the boys that the dogs could be
treated so differently from what horses would have been when the day's
work was done. Indeed, everything was novel and startling.

A days journey was ended, and they were about to take a night's rest.
But how different from