of porridge, I threw myself on a flat rock, pillowed my head on the
trunk of a fallen spruce tree, drew a handkerchief over my face to
keep away the clouds of mosquitoes, and slept soundly. At dawn I
arose, built a fire, repaired my compass, and ate a cup of
porridge. I was not frightened, because with my compass again in
working order I knew I should have no difficulty in finding the
river, which must be somewhere to the south and which must lead me
back to camp. So to the southward I took my course, pushing my way
through thick brush and over marshes where the ground under my feet
went up and down like the waves of the sea.

Towards noon I reached a barren hill, and from its summit saw the
river just beyond and the site of one of our old camping places
that I knew was eighteen miles below our last camp. Down to the
shore of the river I hurried, and built a fire for luncheon. The
partridge at my belt had been torn into shreds by the bushes, and
again a cup of porridge had to serve me for a meal. It was dark
when I reached camp, to find Hubbard greatly worried and George
away looking for me.

There had been some good-natured arguments between Hubbard and me
as to the merits of our respective compasses, and as he now
appeared to have the better of it, he took advantage of the
occasion to chaff me unmercifully. Then when George returned they
both had fun with me for getting lost.

"That's all right," I said, "your turn, Hubbard, will come later.
You haven't been lost yet, because you haven't been out of sight of
camp alone. Anyway, I just stayed out for a quiet evening by
myself."