278 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



the cans, bottles, and other relics of a party of camp- 

 ers. Rain and snow were falling when the tent was 

 pitched, but such vagaries of the climate are unnoticed 

 by true woodsmen, and after banking and draining 

 the tent the safely ensconced party were soon telling 

 their stories and cracking their harmless jokes at 

 each other's expense. The doctor and judge had tried 

 a cast in the little stream, but trout were shy, and 

 they were unsuccessful in their efforts. Two fine 

 bull elk had been seen crossing the park, and this 

 was sufficient indication that the hunters were now 

 in the elk country. 



Marvine Lake, twelve miles farther on, was 

 reached next day in a blinding snow-storm. Here 

 one little trout was caught after the doctor and the 

 judge had whipped the stream until their arms 

 ached. There appeared to be many fish in the water, 

 but they were not anxious to try the flies which were 

 cast over them. Another day through rain and 

 snow carried the party to a spot where the snow was 

 cleared off sufficiently to permit the tent to be raised. 

 While the judge and Jim were getting a fire and 

 supper the naturalist and the doctor went hunting. 

 They soon returned empty-handed, but with great 

 stories of the deer they had seen and shot at. 



At nine o'clock next morning the sun was shining 

 and the pack-train was wending its way down Mar- 

 vine River towards White River, which was reached 

 shortly after noon. Here the horses varied the en- 

 tertainment by giving an exhibition of what they 

 could do in the way of bucking off the packs. One 

 started it, and the contagion spread until five of them 



