noon
Robin went first and beat the track , Walter followed in his footsteps , Roy brought up the rear . The father sank about six inches at every step , but the snow which fell upon his snow-shoes was so fine and dry , owing to the intense frost , that it fell through the net-work of the shoes like dust . Walter and Roy , treading in the footsteps , had less labour in walking , but Walter , being almost as strong as his uncle , took his turn at beating the track every two hours . Through the woods they went , over mound and hollow , across frozen swamp and plain , through brush and break , until near noon , when they halted for rest and refreshment . While Walter cut firewood , Robin and Roy cleared away the snow , using their snow-shoes as shovels , and prepared their meal . It was simple ; a few mouthfuls of dried meat and a tin can of hot tea -- the backwoodsman 's greatest luxury , next to his pipe . It was short , too .