The American Wilderness. 19 



fore most apt to care passionately for the chase of big 

 game. The free ranchman lives in a wild, lonely country, 

 and exactly as he breaks and tames his own horses, and 

 guards and tends his own branded herds, so he takes the 

 keenest enjoyment in the chase, which is to him not 

 merely the pleasantest of sports but also a means of add- 

 ing materially to his comforts, and often his only method 

 of providing himself with fresh meat. 



Hunting in the wilderness is of all pastimes the most 

 attractive, and it is doubly so when not carried on merely 

 as a pastime. Shooting over a private game preserve is 

 of course in no way to be compared to it. The wilder- 

 ness hunter must not only show skill in the use of the rifle 

 and address in finding and approaching game, but he 

 must also show the qualities of hardihood, self-reliance, 

 and resolution needed for effectively grappling with his 

 wild surroundings. The fact that the hunter needs the 

 game, both for its meat and for its hide, undoubtedly 

 adds a zest to the pursuit. Among the hunts which I 

 have most enjoyed were those made when I was engaged 

 in getting in the winter's stock of meat for the ranch, or 

 was keeping some party of cowboys supplied with game 

 from day to day. 



