sired. The camp was made very similar to those
already described. There were a few changes, however. The soft snow
was all cleared away, and a deep layer of fine balsam boughs were evenly
spread out over the cleared place. Then over this a couple of
tarpaulins were spread, and on these the usual camp beds of robes and
blankets were arranged as elsewhere described. A great log fire was
built up in front, and numerous logs were cut for use when required. A
number of good stiff long poles were also cut and placed where they
could be quickly utilised, if needed, to erect a roof or barrier against
a storm of sleet or rain which might unexpectedly come up.

While the camp was thus being prepared by some of the party, in this
cozy elevated place, back among the trees, where it would not frighten
the geese, others were equally hard at work making the nests out on the
great open meadowlike place where the goose grass was most abundant.
These nests were built up of dry grass and dead brush, and made so that
they looked just as their names would indicate--like great nests. Each
of them was large enough to comfortably hold two hunters, who could
easily move around, and thus be able to fire in any direction. They
were about four feet high, and so constructed that when the hunters
inside were crouching down they were quite invisible to the passing
geese. Some Indians used to pile lumps of snow here and there on the
edge of the nest to help the disguise. It is a peculiarity of wild
geese that white objects never frighten them. This was the reason why
the hunters all wore white suits and white caps. Then a number of
decoys were made. They were rather rude affairs. The bodies were hewn
out of logs about the size of a goose. A couple of sticks were driven
in for legs; then the heads and necks, which had been prepared
beforehand out of crooked roots, were fastened in their places. They
were poor affairs, but seemed quite sufficient to attract the simple
geese. A number of these decoys were assigned to each nest, and the
hunter had to arrange his own according to his own judgment. The
direction of the wind had much to do in rightly placing them. Care had
to be exercised in arranging the nests so that the occupants of one
would not be in danger from the firing from another, as in the
excitement of the settling down of a large flock, or in their circling
completely around a nest, a person is apt to forget everything but his