294 TRAVELS IN THE EIGHTIES. 



many as possible must be seized and grasped together. 

 Frequently, with rifle strapped to my back, it was 

 necessary to cross bare, open spaces without one 

 friendly plant with which to stay a slip, and where 

 the only thought present with any sane person could 

 be where the foot should be placed with the greatest 

 likelihood of its holding, perhaps combined with a 

 formless, unexpressed regret that one had not suffered 

 the wild goats to remain undisturbed. To fall was to 

 slide downwards, and to slide downwards meant, " My 

 native land, good night ! " It will be understood that 

 after these experiences I attached higher value to my 

 goat's snow-white head than to any other trophy of 

 the chase. 



To make our way down once more to Bute Inlet 

 after having achieved and deserved success, carrying 

 our trophy, was rather a prolonged lowering of oneself, 

 from bush to bush, or by long branches whenever they 

 came within reach, than any real reliance upon one's 

 legs. George and Jack were thankful to get back 

 again safe to where we had left the canoe, and I know 

 I was. At the far corner of Bear Bay, four miles 

 away, there appeared to be a large stream, and there 

 I determined to camp. It turned out to be a glacial 

 river of considerable volume, and at the mouth stood 

 a couple of empty Indian houses, with long rows of 

 poles for drying oolachans or candle-fish. The water 

 of the upper portion of Bute Inlet, including Bear 

 Bay, has a faint milky tinge, and is fresh enough to 

 drink, notwithstanding its great depth, and the force 



