Then it was an almost unbroken wilderness, the axe of the settler having rarely disturbed its solitude.
A suitable spot for the cabin was selected, and a space of about fifteen feet by twenty feet was marked out and smoothed down for the floor.

There was no cellar.

Trees near by, of straight trunks, were felled and trimmed, and cut into logs of suitable length.

These were piled one above another, in such a way as to enclose the space, and were held in their place by being notched at the corners.

Rough boards were made for the roof by splitting straight-grained logs about four feet long.
The door was made by cutting or sawing the logs on one side of the hut, about three feet in width.