Hunting at High Altitudes 



On the 1 5th of August, we passed from the 

 waters of Belt Creek through the Belt Pass and 

 into the Basin, which contained many rich valleys 

 and has long been occupied by stockmen. We 

 passed through the Basin without mishap, though 

 almost every night there was an Indian scare. In 

 the outfit there was a little red mule that was a 

 splendid sentinel, for whenever anything ap- 

 proached the camp he would give a succession 

 of snorts. We reached the vicinity of the Judith 

 Gap August 19. 



On making camp on the evening of August 19, 

 we discovered the advance of a herd of buffalo 

 coming through the Judith Gap from the Mussel- 

 shell country. The next morning camp was not 

 moved, but we approached the outskirts of the 

 immense herd with care, so as not to alarm the 

 main body of the buffalo. After killing what meat 

 we needed a fat calf a high butte was climbed, 

 and we had a view of the whole gap, about one 

 mile in width. It was a warm, lazy day, inducing 

 in man or beast that common malady known as 

 spring fever. There, in sight of us, were about 

 5,000 buffalo, lolling about in various positions, 

 some grazing, some lying down and some old bulls 

 sitting up. The scene was new to me, and I viewed 

 it for an hour through a good pair of field glasses. 



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