Marooned in the Forest: The Story of a Primitive Fight for Life

by A. Hyatt Verrill

My first idea was to gather together logs which had been cast on the beach, float them in shallow water to a spot near my camp, and then bind them together with moosewood bark, vines, and roots until I had formed a raft which would support my weight. Accordingly, I set forth on the following morning to gather my logs together, but I soon found that my scheme was worthless, for the high water and wind had carried off any stranded logs and trees which were buoyant enough to float, and during the entire forenoon I did not succeed in finding a single log which would serve my purpose. At one spot, however, I discovered a number of dead trees lying on the bank well away from the shore, and I decided that if these could be rolled or pulled to the lake they would serve excellently. It seemed an easy matter to accomplish, but the very first log which I selected proved how futile were my efforts. The fallen tree was some twenty feet in length and over eight inches in diameter at the largest part, and while its weight was not so tremendous, yet its length and the numerous stubs of branches which projected from it prevented me from making the least headway. After hours of back-breaking toil I succeeded in prying it up and in placing small limbs beneath it, but despite every effort I was utterly unable to force the log sideways or endways or to roll it along. Finally exhausted, hungry, and discouraged, I gave up in despair and made my way to my fire to cook my meal. The fire had been built near a good-sized tree and as I approached my camp I discovered that the flames had spread to the tree, had eaten their way through the trunk, and that it had fallen upon my lean-to, which was a broken, flattened mass of twigs and branches. It was a small loss, but I was thankful that I had not been within the shelter when the tree came crashing down upon it. The next instant I gave a shout of joy, for the fire had shown me a way to solve my difficulties with the logs. Dolt that I was not to have thought of it before. I could cut the logs into easily handled lengths by means of fire, and for that matter could fell standing trees by the same means, more easily, if more slowly, than by an ax.

The tree which had been accidentally cut down was scarcely six inches through, but it was a green, live tree and I realized that much larger dead trees could be cut in less time, and as soon as I had eaten I gathered up a firebrand and started toward the logs on which I had labored so strenuously and with such poor success. Placing a pile of dry twigs and branches under a log, I soon had them ablaze and threw more dry sticks around and over the trunk. Very soon the dry wood of the tree had caught fire and was burning merrily, but, much to my chagrin, I found that the flames were spreading along the surface of the log, fanned by the breeze from the lake. For a moment I was in a quandary to prevent the entire log from being consumed before it was cut through. Then, gathering up handfuls of the soft, damp earth and moss, I plastered it over the surface of the log on either side of the fire. Had I possessed a birch-bark dipper I could easily have thrown water upon it, but I had not used a birch-bark dish for days and had no time in which to fashion one at the moment. The wet earth checked the spread of the flames, and as fast as the heat dried it off I threw on more, and within an hour the log cracked, sagged, and a moment later broke in two. My experiment was a success, and, quickly raking away the fire, I started it in another place. All through the afternoon I worked and before nightfall had six lengths of smooth, dry logs cut and ready to roll to the lake. They were all free from projecting branches and stubs, which I had also burned off. My eyes were smarting with smoke, my skin was scorched, and my hands black with muck and grime, and I was inexpressibly tired, but I was supremely happy, for I felt that the worst of my labors were over and that within a couple of days I would be paddling across the lake toward the southern shore.

A bath in the lake did much to refresh me, for although the water was icy cold, it served to relieve my numerous burns and the irritation of my eyes, and the next morning I felt well able to resume my work of getting the logs to the water’s edge.

It was not difficult to pry up the short, eight-foot lengths and to place branches beneath them, and at the end of an hour I saw the first log slip down the bank to the shore and splash into the water. I fairly cheered as the piece of trunk floated within a few feet of the beach and I felt as much elated and as proud as though I had launched a ship. Hastily dragging it to the shore, I secured it to the bushes and climbed up the bank to attack a second log.

Experience had taught me much and I found far less work in prying up and sliding this log than I had expended on the first. In a short time I had it beside its fellow on the beach, and when I at last ceased my labors to prepare my midday meal only two logs remained upon the bank.

I was very tired, for I had worked ceaselessly since early morning, but I had accomplished a great deal and felt that I had earned a few hours’ rest. It was a pleasant afternoon, warm and balmy, with a soft, blue haze half-veiling the distant woods and hills, and had I possessed the necessities of life and a canoe I would have been glad to spend many days camping on the borders of the lovely forest lake. As I rested, lying upon the mossy bank and gazing off across the sparkling water, I was attracted by a slight rustle near at hand, and, turning my head, saw a graceful deer step forth from the ferns. For a moment the splendid creature stood, suspiciously sniffing the air, and then, scenting no danger, trotted to the water’s edge and plunged into the lake.

Straight toward the opposite side he swam, his antlers, ears, and nose alone showing above the rippling surface of the water, and a long, silvery wake trailing behind him. How I envied his powers of swimming and how I longed for a means to slay him, for my admiration of his beauty and grace was as nothing compared with my longing for broiled venison and for some tough buckskin with which to cover my poor, blistered, bruised feet. Perhaps, I thought, I might devise some trap with which to capture a deer, or by finding a runway I might noose one, and I sighed to think how I was compelled to suffer and to win a bare existence although surrounded by game which would furnish me with innumerable comforts.

But if I was to complete my raft it was high time I resumed my labors. Arising regretfully, for my rest upon the moss was delightful, I tramped through the woods to the two remaining logs.

Presently I had pried one of the logs from behind some projecting stumps and, having placed branches beneath it to hold it up, I dropped my lever and started back to secure some pieces of wood I had used as rollers. In doing this I stepped upon the other log, my foot slipped, I fell crashing backward, my arm knocked the props from under the log, and with a thud it dropped, pinning my foot beneath it.

A terrific pain shot through my leg, I writhed and twisted, shrieking in agony as I strove to free my foot, and sweat poured from my face with the torture, but still my leg remained fast wedged between the logs, and I saw before me a lingering, terrible death.