"It is very simple, Jed," explained Shep. "As soon as the snow melts it turns to water, and the water, soaking the carbide, generates acetylene gas, which burns about the same as gas in a city."
"Well, it's an easy way to start a camp-fire," was the old hunter's comment. "I've had lots o' trouble sometimes, when the wood was wet as it is now."
The roaring fire made matters a little more cheerful, yet the boys felt discouraged, with the roof of the shelter broken down. Jed Sanborn did all in his power to cheer them up.
"When you go camping like this you can't expect everything to go jest right," he said. "You have to take the lean with the fat an' the bitter with the sweet. Now, I knowed a crowd o' men went camping out in the North Woods a few years ago. First one of the men took sick an' had to go home, then the boat they had got to leakin' so they couldn't use it, then came a forest fire, and in running away one of 'em up an' broke his leg. Thet was an outin' fer you!"
"Thanks, but I'd rather stay home," said Snap. "But I believe you,—there is no use of crying over spilt milk, as the saying goes. What do you advise?"
"Cleaning out the place and puttin' up a good, strong roof. We can do it by night."
"Night!" cried Whopper. "What is it now but night?"
"No, it's morning, lad, but rather early, I admit."
Under the old hunter's directions they went to work, and by seven o'clock had the shelter cleaned out. This gave them a chance to get at their stores and also use the fireplace once more, and they cooked a fish breakfast and made a generous pot of coffee and another of chocolate.
"We'll cut all these branches away and then build a regular pole roof," said Jed Sanborn. "Build it right and it will withstand any pile o' snow you kin git on it."