1899] Weston — Notes on a Geological Trip. 179 



in a verdant valley throug-h which Nose Creek runs. It is twenty- 

 two miles from Calg-ary, 193 miles from Edmonton and over 3,400 

 feet above the sea. This is a ranch farm and we receive, as every 

 traveller does, a hearty welcome from the ranchmen (women there 

 are none), and after supper roll ourselves in our blankets, tumble 

 down on the floor and soon sleep soundly till the blowing- of a 

 horn calls us to breakfast. At daylight Mac finds that his horses, 

 which were picketed in a green spot of prairie g-rass near the 

 farm have drawn their pickets and left. After a ride of several 

 miles Mac finds them quietly making- their way homeward. At 

 10 a.m. we leave this roug-h but hospitable prairie farm and are 

 ag-ain on our journey. Our nig-hts till we reach Mackenzie's farm 

 are spent under canvas. Space will not allow of a detailed des- 

 cription of the many interesting- incidents which occur in a journey 

 across the Northwest plains. On the third morning we leave the 

 Edmonton trail, or main road, strike across the country and at 

 sun-set arrive at the Red Deer River, which in places is a rapid 

 and turbid stream rising- and falling- suddenly according- to the 

 melting of the snow in the mountains. Mac's practised eye sees 

 at a glance that the water has risen two feet since he left home, 

 and that we cannot cross here with our outfit. Mac is a man of 

 few words, and says, " Keep a tight hold on the horses till I 

 return." Tired after the day's journey, the rushing of the water, 

 barking of several prairie wolves in the distance, together with 

 the anxiety of the houses to get to their stable opposite, makes 

 me a little nervous ; but in a short time Mackenzie returns and 

 says, " We can cross lower down," and soon our horses plunge 

 into the stream ; the water covers the floor of the waggon, but in 

 a few moments we are safely over, and in a short time at the door 

 of Mackenzie's house, where we receive a warm greeting from 

 Mrs. Mac and her numerous family who are all typical specimens 

 of the half-breeds of this locality. At the time of my visit, with 

 the exception of the Rev. Leo Gaetz's farm —a little higher up the 

 river — ^this is the best farm to be found for many miles ; wheat, 

 oats, in fact any farm produce can be raised here with little tilling 

 of the land. It is the last farm on the banks of the Red Deer we 

 shall see for probably a month. 



