Hunting at High Altitudes 



left in Milligan's care until sent for. The fol- 

 lowing day Milo was to take me in his wagon to 

 Benson's Landing, where I might intercept the 

 mail wagon bound for Bozeman, about twenty-six 

 miles distant. Cochran was to take one pack ani- 

 mal with my personal baggage and my riding mare 

 Kate to Bozeman. 



Milo suggested to me that he might not be able 

 to fulfill his contract. There was a possibility that 

 the ice in the river would not be strong enough to 

 bear his team. At present the stream was full of 

 running ice, except at still places or pools, where 

 there was little current. He had heard that the 

 crossing at Benson was frozen, for yesterday he 

 pointed out that the ice might be moving to- 

 morrow, in which case there was no- possible way 

 of getting me across the river. The fact that thirty 

 miles below, opposite Walters' ranch, the ice was 

 strong enough to bear single persons, was no in- 

 dication of the condition of things at Benson's. 

 Moreover, the recent cold snap had not lasted long 

 enough to freeze the upper reaches of the stream. 



Although during the night my foot had become 

 more inflamed, we made an early start with Milo 

 and his team for the ford near Benson's Landing, 

 nine miles above. Several buffalo robes were taken 

 to provide against a cold ride to Bozeman that 



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