400 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CUAP. 



black-tail deer. It was time to retreat, as the Big Horn rauge 

 had been thoroughly disturbed. 



Leaving instructions that the camp was to follow, on 8th 

 September Lady liaker and myself started, without any attendant, 

 across the mountains for a ride of about 20 miles to the ranche of 

 Mr. Peters, in accordance with the invitation they had kindly 

 given us, to pay them a visit upon our return. 



There are few portions of the world so utterly trackless as the 

 wilds of America. In Africa there are generally traces, or paths, 

 although insignificant, which mark the natives' routes from one 

 village to another; but in the prairies, and throughout the 

 mountains in America, there are no inhabitants, accordingly there 

 is a total absence of the footprints of mankind. My men were 

 under the impression that we should not find the direction of the 

 Peters's ranch. Instead of this, after a ride of about four hours, 

 we arrived at a point from which we looked down in a direct line 

 upon the Powder river valley, and with the unassisted eye we 

 could see the log-hut and the small surroundings which marked 

 their settlement. We halted to enjoy the view, being rather proud 

 that we had found our way without a guide. Suddenly we heard 

 a rattle : this was immediately repeated loudly, and we observed 

 a rattlesnake about 4 feet in length coiled upon the ground within 

 5 or 6 yards of our horses' legs. This horrid reptile seemed very 

 angry at our intrusion, and after hissing with its tongue and 

 rattling with its tail, it extended itself and glided viciously 

 towards us. 



I did not wish to fire, as my wife's horse disliked the report of 

 a rifle ; we therefore left the snake in possession of the field, and 

 commenced the descent that would lead us to the Powder river 

 valley. Had my men been present, they would have enjoyed our 

 confusion. Although the Peters's dwelling was in sight, we could 

 not discover a route for our descent. The sides of the mountain 

 appeared fairly arranged in a series of inclines, but after marching 

 three-quarters of a mile, we were suddenly confronted by a pre- 

 cipitous canyon which extended for an unknown distance in a deep 

 chasm. 



It was necessary to reascend the slope and try another spur. 

 When we regarded the numerous slopes, or spurs, which appeared 

 to be natural pathways to the valley some 4000 or 5000 feet 

 below, it was difficult to believe that they were alike intersected 

 by canyons, all of which were the result of earthquake disturbance 

 at some distant period which had split the mountain horizontally. 

 We were delayed for more than an hour in marching and counter- 



