214 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



visions sufficient to make a load of about forty 

 pounds were put into a pack for each, and the start 

 was made early next morning. Finally the moun- 

 tain-side was reached and the long and steady pull 

 began. A small frying-pan and a coffee-pot hung 

 to the packs, and at noon a halt was made to get a 

 cup of tea and something to eat. At half -past three 

 the Pathfinder called out : 



" Here's the place for us. We'll camp." 



Three huge dead trees had fallen across each other 

 beside a broken stump about twenty feet high. The 

 ground was cleared of snow and fires were started 

 to dry the earth. Soon the hunters were enjoy- 

 ing a supper of venison steaks, biscuit, and coffee. 

 At eight o'clock both were asleep, and by four 

 next morning they were again on their way up 

 the mountain. Two more days of travelling through 

 the dense underbrush, with snow eighteen inches 

 deep, took them to timber-line, and the bald top of 

 the mountain rose before them. The snow was badly 

 drifted and it was very cold away from shelter. A 

 circuit to the north was taken towards Kettle River, 

 but no signs of caribou were to be seen. 



Their curiosity was fully satisfied, and, as they 

 were fifty miles from the home camp, they began to 

 plan their return. They readily saw that even if they 

 found game there would be no way of getting it 

 out of the country, for the horses could never be 

 brought up the mountain. It was now the middle 

 of November, and another foot or two of snow was 

 likely to fall any night. 



Next day a difficult piece of country was entered, 



