210 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



or five miles to camp, only to receive the severe cen- 

 sure of Farrell for making a pack-horse of himself 

 when there were so many " cayuses " standing around. 



McLaughlin was out three days, and when he re- 

 turned he reported a few signs of caribou. One or 

 two of them had been feeding on the bunches of 

 black moss which hung from the trees at a place 

 about ten miles from camp. The trail was taken in 

 that direction, and after a hard day's travel a little 

 meadow was reached during a driving snow-storm. 

 Camp was made under difficulties, and it was some 

 time before a big log fire made the hunters com- 

 fortable. With a bright fire, hot supper, and many 

 good stories, they were soon laughing and joking as 

 if there was no such thing as a snow-storm. As the 

 night deepened a pack of timber-wolves made their ap- 

 pearance and serenaded the new-comers. In the deep 

 stillness of the forest these weird howls brought many 

 tales of danger to the minds of the campers, but they 

 were not of a mould to be scared at snarling wolves 

 and all were soon fast asleep. 



Several days were now spent in exploring the coun- 

 try, which was found to be an immense jungle, and 

 then Dyche and Farrell made an effort to reach the 

 mountains on the east. From this place could be 

 seen a great wilderness of trees, but off to the north- 

 east appeared the shimmering water of several lakes. 

 The bald mountain to which Dyche had travelled on 

 foot several weeks before reared its snow-covered 

 head above all the others. After long consultation 

 that night Farrell and McLaughlin determined to 

 cross the range and go down the middle fork of the 



