The men and boys, though now sparing their powder and ball, still set traps for game and were not without reward.

Often they found elk and deer, and once or twice a buffalo floundering in the deep snowdrifts, and these they added to the winter larder.

They broke holes in the ice on the river and caught fish in abundance.

They worked, too, about the houses, making more tables and benches and chairs and shelves and adding to their bodily comforts.
The great snow lasted about a month and then began to break up with a heavy rain which melted all the ice, but which could not carry away all the snow.

The river rose rapidly and overflowed its banks but Wareville was safe, built high on the hill where floods could not reach.