A PLACE TO "BIDE" Dazed and almost hopeless Jamie stood and gazed about him at the thick falling snow.

His body and brain were tired, but some immediate action was imperative or he would be overcome by his weariness and the cold.
"If I were only bringin' an axe, I could fix a place to bide in and cut wood for a fire," he said.

"If I were only bringin' an axe!" He thrust his hands deep into his pocket and felt the big, stout jack-knife that Doctor Joe had given him, and he drew it out.
"Maybe now I can fix un with just this," he said hopefully.

"I've got to have grit and I've got to try my best whatever." He looked up and there, within two feet of the log upon which he had been sitting, were two spruce trees about six feet apart.
"Maybe I can fix un right here," he commented, "and maybe I can lay a fire against the log and if I can get un afire she'll burn a long while and keep un warm." With much effort he cut and trimmed a stiff, strong pole.

The lower limbs of the trees were not above four feet from the ground, and upon these he rested his pole, extending it from tree to tree.