284 CANADIAN NIGHTS 



transportation are provided, it cannot compete 

 with other and less naturally favoured regions ; 

 it cannot hope to vie with Colorado, Wyoming, and 

 the other States and Territories that include the 

 foot-hills and fertile plains, packs, and valleys 

 that lie within the eastern ranges of the Rocky 

 Mountains. 



So, while the Indians slept, I strayed in thought 

 over hunting-grounds of the past, and marvelled 

 at the changes that had taken place and the greater 

 changes yet to come, till my musings were inter- 

 rupted by old John, who awoke, sat up, shook his 

 long hair out of his eyes, pulled his old black clay 

 pipe out of his belt, placed a glowing ember in the 

 bowl, and commenced smoking, with that ex- 

 pressive sound, half sigh, half suck, that tells of 

 perfect satisfaction. " Why, old man, what is 

 the matter," I said ; " have you been dreaming ? " 

 " Yes, sir, I dreamed very hard, very hard indeed, 

 very good dream too ; see moose soon, I know — 

 big one too. I see a big ship, with a big hull all 

 black, oh black as pitch. I had a job to get on 

 board, but I did get on board. It is all right, 

 you'll get one pretty soon. My shoulders and 

 legs ache av^ul bad too, sir. I shall be carrying 

 a heavy load of meat socn, I know." It is a 



