32 THE WILDERNESS HUNTER. 



the keenest enjoyment in the chase, which is 

 to him not merely the pleasantest of sports, 

 but also a means of adding materially to his 

 comforts, and often his only method of pro- 

 viding 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 wilderness 

 hunter must not only show skill in the use of 

 the rifle and address in finding and approach- 

 ing 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 get- 

 ting in the winter's stock of meat for the ranch, 

 or was keeping some party of cowboys sup- 

 plied with game from day to day. 



