A DIFFICULT PATH. 231 



On the morrow we remained in camp, mending; 

 moccasins, and frnitlessly fishing, whilst The Assini- 

 boine searched for the right trail. He returned in the 

 evening, having found the path, still following the 

 river. The trail began to ascend the river bank, and 

 we presently encountered a thick smoke. A Httle 

 further we found the path completely obstructed by 

 fallen trees, and obliterated by the effects of a fire 

 which was still smouldering. Although this was en- 

 couraging, as evidence of the recent presence of man, 

 we made very slow progress ; now chopping through 

 the trees which barred the road, now descending to 

 seek the very brink of the river, now again ascending 

 the steep hill side, so as to avoid as much as possible 

 the difficulties which beset us. The Assiniboine 

 brought us out about noon Avhere the path showed 

 clearly on a little open plateaa, covered with wild 

 flowers, at the base of the " Eoche a Myette," which 

 rose perpendicularly above. Here we unpacked the 

 horses and stayed to rest. 



In the afternoon we saw numerous fresh tracks of 

 the bighorn, or " mouton gris," the wild sheep of the 

 Rocky Mountains, (^) and The Assiniboine and Cheadle 

 scaled the steep sides of the mountains, w^hich now 

 closely shut in the valley, in pursuit. The rest passed 

 on along a well-marked trail, which ascended abruptly, 



(^) The bighorn is something like an ordinary sheep, but with 

 very large head, and curling horns of enormous size. The "mouton 

 blanc " resembles the common goat, but has soft, white hair, more 

 like wool. The Indians of British Columbia weave beautiful blankets 

 of this material. Both the "mouton blanc" and "gi'is" frequent the 

 highest crags, and are active as the chamois. 



