THE MULE DEER. 299 



ter awhile to a stock-raiser and rancher. His career had 

 been one of arduous toil and bold adventure, and he had 

 had more than one contest with Indians and wild animals ; 

 yet, notwithstanding his hard and unsympathetic life, his 

 heart was as tender as a w r oman's, and he had a species of 

 chivalry which, though rude, was founded on as high prin- 

 ciples of honor as those which governed the conduct of the 

 most famous knights of old. 



Bold and daring, and ready to meet any man with dead- 

 ly weapons in a moment should he give him cause therefor, 

 yet he would be the first to help him afterward if he were 

 worthy of it. Strong in friendship, generous in character, 

 tender and true, he was a fine type of those men who for- 

 merly lived on the wild frontier, but who are now passing 

 away, owing to the settling up of the country, and the ces- 

 sation, comparatively speaking, of the fur trade in regions 

 where no other business was once known. Hunter, trap- 

 per, and Indian fighter, it could be well said of him, as it 

 was of one of his prototypes : 



"And the happy, careless rover, 

 Through the wilds he wandered over, 

 Told his deeds by glade and cover 

 All along the wild frontier. 

 Oft the squirrel, listening near, 

 When long-parted comrades greeted, 

 Heard the wondrous tales repeated ; 

 Heard that when the game was started, 

 Sped their fortunes well or not, 

 He was still the lightest-hearted, 

 And the surest rifle-shot." 



Under his guidance I wended my way to the Bitter 

 Root Mountains ; and as I have cause to long remember 

 the scene of our hunt, I have entered into unusual details 

 to show what manner of men are often met with in the 

 West. 



We took with us a small tent, a generous supply of food 

 and tobacco, a full equipment of arras, and a large mastiff 

 to act as camp guard. Each rode a hardy mustang, and 

 we had two mules which acted as pack animals. A march 



