How Kootenay Emerged from its Wild State. 241 



disastrously, more particularly so in consequence of the unfortunate 

 but not uncommon sequel of costly litigation. As the winning side 

 got the costs of three of the suits, and Sprowle could not settle the 

 large amount which now was claimed by the Ainsworths, an attach- 

 ment to cover their costs was issued against his remaining interest, 

 and the latter was sold by the sheriff. This unfortunate ending 

 unhinged Sprowle's over-excited mind altogether, and he now also 

 turned against me, blaming me for the loss of the appeals, which he 

 said was caused by the lawyer's absence, but with which I had, of 

 course, nothing whatever to do, being away in England at the time. 

 HammiPs and my life, he openly threatened, should pay for the loss 

 of his mine. That he meant what he said few doubted who knew 

 Sprowle, and who now witnessed his intensely vindictive anger. 

 Of these threats I heard as soon as I returned to Kootenay in the 

 spring of 1884, and for all that season I did not for a moment feel 

 safe from Sprowle's gun. 



What made it infinitely worse was the fact that my land interests 

 in Kootenay, which had assumed larger shape than I had originally 

 intended, as such matters often will, obliged me during 1884 to be 

 frequently for days at a time in Sandpoint, the nearest rail and 

 post station, which then afforded the only approach to Kootenay. 

 In this wretched hole, one of the "tough" towns in the tough 

 territory of Idaho, where shooting scrapes and " hanging bees " 

 were common events, Sprowle had many friends, for he had lived 

 there a winter or two. Though neither a gambler or a drinker, 

 merits which had prejudiced me at first strongly in his favour, 

 Sprowle's venomous talk soon surrounded me with enemies, 

 and it was not long before I was told by one of the few 

 respectable citizens of the place, that the town was freely betting 

 on the shortness of my shrift. My turn did presently come, and 

 the man with whom a few months before I had lived in closest 

 community, at whose side I had slept for weeks, sharing even 

 blankets, during many weary i5o-mile rows to the mines, and 

 whose indomitable courage and perseverance in his law fight 

 I could even now not abstain from admiring, would have shot me 



