1881 



In the spring of 1881 I determined to spend the 

 summer and fall of that year among the mountains 

 bordering the Big Horn Basin on the west, be- 

 tween Clark's Fork and the Grey Bull River. I 

 wished also to get into the field as soon as the 

 grass was sufficiently advanced to support the 

 horses. Though desirous of retaining the services 

 of George Herendeen for the season, I was unable 

 to do so. He was an expert packer, resourceful 

 and reliable in every way, and I regretted his loss. 



However, I secured two excellent old-timers, 

 each an expert packer, wholly reliable and full of 

 resource. These were T. Elwood Hofer, as packer 

 and horse wrangler, and Le Grand Corey, as camp- 

 keeper. Hofer was of Swiss ancestry, educated 

 and reliable, and was destined in after years to 

 make an honorable record in the service of the 

 Government. Corey was remarkable for his skill 

 with tools and his readiness of resource in all the 

 emergencies of mountain life. During this trip 

 the stock of my rifle was broken short off at the 



186 



