138 



TEN DAYS IN MONTANA. 



Mountain sheep were killed and brought into Major Comba's 

 camp within two or three days previous to the time of our 

 visit. Two cinnamon-bears were killed here to. winter, and 

 others have been seen lately. 



They have a pet fawn of the mule deer species at this camp, 

 that was caught by one of the Indian scouts last spring. It is 

 now about half grown, and is very handsome. Its neck, back 

 and sides are a dark lavender color ; belly and legs lighter, 

 with a white spot on rump ; tail white, with black tip ; ears 

 large; eyes dark, lustrous, and very expressive. The scouts 

 caught several fawns last spring, but there were no cows in 

 camp then, and no milk to feed them on, except the con- 

 densed milk (or condemned, as the boys call it), and all the 

 others died. This one was brought in just at the time when 

 the first cow arrived in camp, and has been healthy and 

 happy ever since. He roams at will about the camp, and is 

 the equal in rank of any one he meets with, from private 

 up to post commandant. 



Mr. Keith informed us that one day last fall, soon after he 

 established his present camp, a noble old buck of the "big 

 horn " species came to the top of a tall bluff that stands just 

 back of his camp, some two hundred feet high, and remained 

 for some minutes looking over the camp. As he stood there 

 looking down with silent disdain upon his natural enemies, 

 his long spiral horns, and heavy, well developed frame out- 

 lined against the clear blue sky, Mr. Keith says he presented 

 a picture worthy the pencil of a landseer. No one disturbed 

 him, and after he had made a satisfactory survey of the camp, 

 he retired. 



A good story is told on a couple of officers of this camp 

 and two or three men who were out hunting a day or two 

 before. They were returning to camp well laden with veni- 

 son, when they discovered in the water, a short distance ahead, 



