Читать книгу Camping in the Winter Woods: Adventures of Two Boys in the Maine Woods онлайн

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Just as the sun was sinking behind a ridge of pine-clad mountains Ben shouted, and, much to the surprise of his companions, an answer at once came back. Looking ahead, as the guide pointed with his whip, the boys saw the outlines of a log house. In a few moments more the wagon came to a stop before the door, where stood a great bearded man in rough hunting clothes, who greeted them heartily.

Ben introduced him as the owner of the team, and said that after spending the night with them he would drive to his own cabin, some fifteen or twenty miles distant, in the morning.

While Ben and his friend unhitched the horses, and busied themselves with unloading the wagon, the boys wandered about examining the cozy log cabin, which was the first one they had ever seen.

It was of generous proportions, and was built entirely of great peeled logs, laid one on top of the other. The spaces between them had been closed with pine slabs sealed over with mud. The roof was made of split logs scooped out in the style of troughs and placed side by side, with another slab over each two where they came together, scooped side down. On top of them was piled earth and moss, which gave the appearance of a sod roof. The house contained but one large room, in which was a door and three good-sized windows. At the back of this room were four bunks, two on either side, built one above the other. They were of large dimensions, and would each accommodate two persons comfortably. These bunks were filled with the tips of balsam boughs to a considerable depth, and over this improvised mattress was spread, first, a piece of heavy tarpaulin, and then, on top of this, several heavy blankets. In the front part of the room was a small cook-stove, on which several pots were simmering. Along one side of this combination living, sleeping, and dining room was a home-made bookcase of unpeeled logs, whose shelves held many old and entertaining volumes, mostly of adventure. On the other side were racks and hooks for clothes and accouterments. In one corner a pantry was built for dishes and cooking accessories. Midway between the hard earth floor and the roof-peak, poles were laid crosswise of the room, thus forming a sort of overhead attic for the storing of additional baggage. A pine table covered with red oil-cloth did service for reading, writing, and dining; and home-made three-legged stools served as chairs.