incessantly day and night. Trail hunting was impracticable while the
storm lasted, but the halt offered an opportunity that was taken
advantage of to repair our outfit; also there was much needed mending
to be done, as some of our clothing was badly torn.

Everything we had in the way of wearing apparel was wet, and we set up
our tent stove for the first time, that we might dry our things under
cover. This stove proved a great comfort to us, and all agreed that
it was an inspiration that led me to bring it. It was not an
inspiration, however, but my experience on the trip with Hubbard that
taught the necessity of a stove for just such occasions as this, and
for the colder weather later.

Some of us went to the rapid to fish, but it was too cold for either
fly or bait, and we soon gave it up. I slipped off a rock in the
lower swirl of the rapid, and went into the river over head and ears.
Pete, who was with me, gave audible expression to his amusement at my
discomfiture as I crawled out of the water like a half drowned rat;
but I could see no occasion for his hilarity and I told him so.

This experience dampened my enthusiasm as a fisherman for that day.
The net was set, however, which later yielded us some trout. A fish
planked on a dry spruce log hewn flat on one side, made a delicious
dinner, and a savory kettle of fish chowder made of trout and dried
onions gave us an equally good supper.

On July fifteenth sleet was mingled with the rain in the early
morning, and it was so cold that Duncan used his mittens when doing
outdoor work. Easton was not feeling well, and I looked upon our
delay as not altogether lost time, as it gave him an opportunity to