CHAPTER XIV. 



TEN DAYS IN MONTANA. 



MONTANA A VERITABLE WONDERLAND* SPORT FROM THE BAGGAGE 

 CAR ALKALI BEDS NEAR CRYSTAL SPRINGS "WHY DID YOUR 



AUNT ELOPE? " RESOLVED TO KILL A BUFFALO OR GET SCALPED 

 JUDGE SOUTHER IN LUCK IN THE CUSTER VALLEY "YOUNG 

 MAN'S BUTTE" CUSTER'S LOOKOUT! PRAIRIE-DOGS BAD LANDS 

 TOO BAD TO BE DESCRIBED. 



EVER since the days of my childhood I have longed to 

 see the great plains of the Far West. My highest ambition, 

 my fondest dream, has been to hunt the buffalo on his native 

 prairies, to see the antelope, the Rocky mountain sheep, the 

 elk, the black-tail deer and the coyote roam at will in their 

 favorite ranges. I have longed to see the famous " bad 

 lands ' ' of which authors, journalists and travelers have told 

 us so much ; which artists have attempted in vain to portray 

 on canvas. I have longed for the privilege of ascending the 

 tall buttes, and viewing with one sweep of the eye as much 

 territory as is inclosed within the boundary lines of one of 

 our eastern states. 



Ail these desires I have at last been permitted to realize, 

 and their realization has far exceeded all my anticipations. 

 These western territories, at least Dakota and Montana, the 

 ones I have visited, are indeed a veritable wonderland. 



I left Chicago at ten A.M. of September i5th, on the Chi- 

 cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, arrived at St. Paul at six 

 A.M. of the i6th, covering a distance of 409 miles in twenty 

 hours, and enjoying a comfortable night's sleep in the 



meantime in one of this company's commodious and well- 



126 



