But time did not weigh heavily upon the young troops.

As it grew colder and colder they added to the walls and roofs of their improvised shelters.

There was scarcely a man among them who had not been bred to the ax, and the forest in the valley rang continually with their skillful strokes.

Then the logs were notched and in a day or two rude but real cabins were raised, in which they slept, dry and warm.
The fires outside were never permitted to die down, the flames always leaped up from great beds of coals, and warmth and the comforts that follow were diffused everywhere.

The lads, when they were not working on the houses, mended their saddles and bridles or their clothes, and when they had nothing else to do they sang war songs or the sentimental ballads of home.