I think I can gather at least six bagfuls, and we'll heap them here by the wall." "An' mighty good seas'nin' they'll be to deer an' buffalo an' b'ar meat," said Jim Hart.

"It wuz a good thought uv yours, Paul." Paul worked the whole morning, and when he had gathered all the nuts in the house he estimated the quantity at several bushels.

Although he sought to conceal his pride, he cast more than one triumphant look at the great heap by the wall.
He and Jim went forth together in the afternoon with rude spades, made of wood and hardened at the edges in the fire, to dig for Indian turnip.
"It ain't much of a veg'table," said Jim, "but we might find it useful to give a new taste to our meat, or it might be uv some help doctorin', in case any uv us fell sick." They found two or three of the roots, and the remainder of the afternoon they devoted to strengthening their house.

They did this with huge slabs of bark lying everywhere on the ground, fallen in former seasons.

Some they put on the roof, thatching in between with dry grass and leaves, and others they fastened on the sides.
"It ain't purty," said Jim, "but it turns rain an' snow, an' that's what we're after." "I take another view," said Paul.