64 THE PLAINS. 



many times before, but, never having happened to come 

 on it in that direction, failed to recognise the landmarks. 



Again, these old plainsmen are not restricted as to 

 time. The principal part of their lives is spent wandering 

 from one stream to another, hunting or trapping, and it 

 is of no consequence to them whether the course is direct 

 or roundabout. It is during such journeying that they 

 fill their heads with the memories of ridges, hills, and 

 isolated peaks, landmarks by which their position is to be 

 assured at some future time ; and it is not at all to be 

 wondered at if these memories sometimes become con- 

 fused, or if the subsequent journeys through the same 

 country should be even more roundabout than the first. 

 This, while all right and pleasant to the old plainsman, 

 becomes a serious matter for a scouting party, which has 

 to do certain work in a specified time, and have rations 

 only for that time, or for a party of gentlemen whose 

 business associations admit of a visit or hunt on the 

 plains of a limited number of days. 



A considerable force started from a military post on 

 an important expedition, with a number of the best guides 

 procurable. Though the command made fairly good 

 marches, the men were wakened on the morning of the 

 fifth day by the morning gun at the post, from which 

 they were distant not over twelve miles in a direct line. 

 This result is not, however, entirely attributable to the 

 incapacity of the guides. 



I do not mean to intimate that guides are of no value 

 on the plains. On the contrary, their services are at 

 many times really important, especially in a country 

 where water is scarce. I do mean to say, however, that, 

 as a rule, the services of these guides are worth less than 

 a fifth of their own estimation of, and charges for, them. 

 When to their knowledge of country they add a famili- 

 arity with Indian languages, or of the sign language of 

 the plains Indians, and also, what is extremely unusual in 

 a white American, are really skilful trailers, their services 



