But it was a long dreary day . Finally when the dark came down and supper was over Kate grew quite desperate . `` Let 's have a game of checkers , '' she suggested . `` Where is your checkerboard ? '' I asked . `` Oh , I 'll soon furnish that , '' said Kate . She cut out a square of brown paper , in which a biscuit box had been wrapped , and marked squares off on it with a pencil . Then she produced some red and white high-bush cranberries for men . A cranberry split in two was a king . We played nine games of checkers by the light of our smoky lantern . Our enjoyment of the game was heightened by the fact that it had ceased raining . Nevertheless , when morning came the trail was so drenched that it was impossible to travel on it . `` We must wait till noon , '' said Kate . `` That trail wo n't be dry enough to travel on for a week , '' I said disconsolately . `` My dear ; the chinook is blowing up , '' said Kate . `` You do n't know how quickly a trail dries in a chinook . It 's like magic . '' I did not believe a chinook or anything else could dry up that trail by noon sufficiently for us to travel on . But it did . As Kate said , it seemed like magic .
By one o'clock we were XXXXX our way again , the chinook blowing merrily against our faces .
As for in like of on over that till with