AN ARDUOUS JOURNEY. 173 



All day was spent in travelling through the forest, 

 and late in the evening camp was made about four 

 miles above the old cabin, whence the trail led out to 

 civilisation. A halt was made here for one day, and 

 a fine two-point buck was killed, giving them wel- 

 come meat after their privations. At four o'clock in 

 the afternoon of the next day the cabin was reached, 

 and was found to be occupied by four prospectors, 

 who were delighted over the " colours" which they 

 had found in the creek. But indications of gold 

 held no charm for the naturalist, and the way down 

 the river was continued. The horses were in bad 

 condition, and they travelled very slowly. During 

 one of his side excursions after a straying horse, 

 Dyche shot a coyote, and this, with a dozen or so 

 skins of "fool hens," constituted the specimens 

 secured in a trip of over a month in the wildest part 

 of North America. 



For two days they now travelled on a diet of veni- 

 son, as their provisions were gone. A delicious re- 

 past of ripe peaches from Thorp's orchard freshened 

 them up and a good supper renewed their energies 

 so that they slept without care. 



