TWENTY YEARS IN THE ROCKIES. 169 



CHAPTER XVI. 



HUNTING EXPEDITIONS NEAR THE BIG HORN MOUNTAINS A charming pic- 

 tureall kinds of gamea bear in a cave Steward in trouble a close 

 call a dead bear "How did I git away from him?" around t<he camp- 

 fire "Captain Jinks" deer, elk nd otter the Devil's Slide a swimming 

 race with a grizzly on the way home. 



Starting up Fly Creek, we rode fast all day through 

 the warm sun, and about noon of the next day, we were near 

 the Big Horn mountains. What a scene lay before us. The 

 verdant hills were covered with hundreds of buffaloes. The 

 sunshine lent luster to their black glossy coats. The calves 

 were at play, running here and there over the grassy slopes. 

 This was not the only picture we looked upon that day. 

 Small herds of antelopes dotted the hills both on the right and 

 left, their white sides glimmering in the distance. The val- 

 leys were occupied by elks and antelopes, while, far away 

 near the foothills, strolled a large band of elks, that had just 

 descended from the heights above, to enjoy the grass and 

 warmth of the valley. Nothing could have been added to 

 improve the picture. Men never designed anything half so 

 lovely. Many a hunter of to-day would give much to see 

 the like. All was silent, save that now and then the clear 

 notes of the lark broke the stillness. We let the animals 

 graze, while we sat upon a knoll to feast our eyes. I was 

 trembling from head to foot with contending emotions. I 

 wanted to try my skill with a rifle, yet did not wish to mar 

 the peaceful scene. 



