14 CAMP-FIRES IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES 



point of view, the supply of canned goods was too heavy; 

 but later on I observed that we made away with nearly 

 the whole of it. 



The party consisted of Mr. Phillips and the writer, 

 two guides, a scout, a cook, a dog and eight horses. 

 The guides were Charles L. Smith of the Elk River 

 valley, and R. W. Norboe, of Meyers Falls, Washing- 

 ton. John Norboe was the scout, and G. E. Huddleston 

 was the cook. Kaiser was the official Dog, — and a finer 

 hunting-dog I never associated with. Before the hunt 

 ended, I once slept with him in my arms (to keep him 

 warm), and I think I earned his respect and friendship. 



From New York to Michel the continent seemed 

 utterly barren of mammalian life, except in the Sioux 

 Reservation, where we saw a few gray-coated Franklin 

 ground-squirrels (Citellus franklini). We saw neither 

 antelope, coyote, swift nor prairie-dog! On the Dakota 

 lakes and ponds there were a few ducks, enjoying im- 

 munity until September; but the total number was small. 



At Charles L. Smith's ranch, on Elk River, five miles 

 below Michel, we at last saw a Wild Animal! A big 

 pack-rat (Neotoma) of sociable habits, calmly climbed 

 into the grub-wagon that was to go as far up as Sulphur 

 Springs, and settled itself for a migration at our expense. 

 The stowaway was discovered, and the alarm sounded. 

 There between two of the boxes, its head in full view 

 under the edge of the tarpaulin, was as droll a face as 

 could be imagined. The big black eyes looked at us 

 inquiringly, but calmly, and even fearlessly. They said: 



"Well, what's all this noise about? Why don't you 



