72 THE PLAINS. 



boards are put in the bottom or sides of the waggon, and 

 the tressels fastened on the feed-box behind. 



These, with pipes and tobacco for smoking, and fluids 

 for those with whom change of water disagrees, give 

 ample means for the full appreciation of what to me is 

 the life most replete with enjoyment and most entirely 

 satisfactory. 



In travelling for pleasure, the camp is habitually 

 pitched and ready by 3 o'clock P.M. A comfortable 

 nap of an hour gives vigour for a hunt of a few hours on 

 foot. 



The return at sunset is to a good dinner, after which 

 all collected about a camp fire (for the nights of the high 

 plains are always cool) with pipes and bowl and social 

 converse, with songs or stories, spend free, careless, happy 

 hours unknown to formal conventional life, and never 

 vouchsafed to the dull diggers after dimes. 



Before sunset all the animals have been brought in, 

 secured in their places, and fed (if there be forage). The 

 pickets are brought in, the old guard is relieved, and the 

 new sentinels posted with care and forethought, for on 

 their positions more than on their vigilance depends the 

 safety of the animals. Nowhere on earth can sleep be 

 so refreshing, so directly sent from heaven. 



Up at dawn of day, a plunge in the pure cold brook 

 furnishes an excuse for a breakfast that would founder a 

 hod-carrier. The camp is struck, horses are saddled, 

 mules harnessed, and we are off' again to a day of toil, 

 excitement, and adventure, to an evening of similar but 

 ever-varying delight. 



Alas for the perfectibility of human happiness ! Even 

 camp life is not without its occasional discomforts, even 

 its serious mishaps. The worst of these is the loss of 

 animals. This may occur either by stampede or by 

 stealing from the picket line. 



A stampede may be caused intentionally either by 

 Indians or white thieves, or it may come from any acci- 



