70 THE DOGS IN DISGRACE. 



places snipe (Scolopax Wilsoni) were very abundant, 

 but from various appearances it was evident that 

 the present resting-place of these aquatic-loving long- 

 bills was in summer a sun-baked barren. Wolves 

 were numerous, but it would puzzle a person to 

 know what they can obtain to live upon in a place 

 so far from shelter, and where the cold was so severe 

 that sleep was almost impossible. Suddenly jump- 

 ing up in our vicinity, they brought the dogs into 

 disgrace, for they appeared unable to control their 

 desire to give chase. Such was their eagerness that 

 they either disarranged their pack, or, knocking it off 

 with the violence of their movements, scattered the 

 contents. The fear of . punishment had no deterring 

 effect upon them ; but if the wolves turned round 

 and showed their tusks, which they not unfrequently 

 did when they believed themselves sufficiently far 

 from us to be out of danger, the dogs would sneak 

 back to our heels thoroughly crest-fallen. 



This night, immediately after sunset, the atmo- 

 sphere was unusually rarefied ; and away to the east 

 I distinctly saw several white dots upon the slope 

 of a distant elevation. Tents I supposed them to 

 be, but the squaw corrected me by stating that they 

 were waggons belonging to the pale-face ; and 

 when at night the darkness became sufficiently 

 intense a fire could be clearly distinguished in 

 the same direction. Once more then I was about 

 to meet men of my own race, and I rejoiced at 

 the prospect. 



