352 FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



had moved down the wind to some sheltered nooks, and the 

 snowfall of last night had deepened the earth's covering to a 

 depth in some places of eight inches — about the utmost it often 

 attains in Eastern Montana. Riding under such circumstances 

 as already depicted is anything but a cheerful recreation, and 

 its disagreeables were now enhanced by the difficulty of 

 following the path, which dipped here and there iuto deep cross- 

 gulches (or ravines), winding its way up again by means of 

 stairlike ascents, and followed a slippery track, with an almost 

 certain fall awaiting any mistake on the horse's part. But 

 these little animals (we always ride the ponies on such expedi- 

 tions) were too well awake to their own danger to be careless. 

 Now and then their unshod feet would slip nearly from under 

 them ; but an actual fall on their part is happily a rarity. The 

 frozen ground (even with the cushion of snow to break the 

 contact) is but a comfortless bed on which to land ; but, as far 

 as my experience goes, a horse will seldom lose his legs in 

 travelling over it, unless hapless chance bids him tread on solid 

 ice, such as he might encounter in crossing some little creek. 



About noon we came upon a little bunch of about thirty 

 head of my brood-mares and foals, which with their attendant 

 stallion (a young Shire horse that I had brought over from 

 England) I was anxious to see, and to assure myself of their 

 welfare. Riding into their midst (for even prairie horses are 

 tame enough while the snow is on the ground), we essayed to 

 stand and look over them ; but so intense was the cold that one 

 moment's waiting was sufficient proof of the probability of 

 freezing should we remain longer. In a few seconds we had 

 thrown a glance over the stallion, and identified one or two 

 of the nearest mares ; then, bundling from the saddle, we rubbed 

 our noses and ears frantically with mittened hands, and pursued 

 our jumbling way at the best pace our numbed feet would allow 

 alongside the saddle-horses. 



Arriving at length at the Cow-camp, a view-halloo brought 

 its occupants to the door, and a cloud of hot steam rushed forth 

 in our faces. One of its inmates led off our horses, and the 



