We opened the front of our snow-coated den, kindled a fire there, and after dressing our partridge broiled it over the embers.

Still it snowed; but the weather now was much warmer.

By the following morning, we thought, we should have clear, cold weather and should be able to set out again.
But never were weather predictions more at fault.

The next morning it was raining furiously; and our den had begun to drip.

In fact, a veritable January thaw had set in.
All that forenoon it poured steadily; and water began to show yellow through the snow in the brook beside our camp.