xxiv THE WAPITI 403 



The morning following our arrival, a man arrived in charge 

 of three mules laden with baggage. This was an extraordinary 

 event, and everybody rushed out to meet the stranger, directly 

 that his approach had been reported. 



"Who was he?" "What was he V "Where did he come 

 from ? " " What baggage was that 1 " " Where was it going to ? " 

 " Was anybody coming 1 " All these questions were put without 

 waiting for a reply ; until at length the mule-driver spoke ; his 

 words produced utter consternation. 



"Well, all I know is this. For the last week I've done nothing 

 but haul baggage for a lot of British lords and ladies, and this 

 is some of it in advance. A lot more is on the road, and there's a 

 heap of 'em all coming here to-night to dine and sleep, and maybe 

 stay a few days before they go up the Big Horn to shoot." 



" British lords and ladies ! A lot of 'em coming here to-night 

 to dine and sleep, and maybe stay a few days ! " murmured our 

 kind hostess in deep despair. " Impossible ; it can't be true ; who 

 are they 1 Have you got a note 1 " 



" No, I haven't got a note, as they said you'll understand. 

 Let me see, I think I can recollect some of their names. There's 



M and his wife and sister ; there's a Captain and Mrs. G ; 



that's five. There's Lord M and the Hon. Mr. L ; that's 



seven. There's Mr. P and Mr. B. ; that's nine. I don't 



think there are any more, but perhaps there may be : I guess that's 

 about enough to crowd you up, isn't it 1 " 



The first shock of this sudden intelligence was terrific. It 

 appeared impossible. How could they be fed or housed 1 The 

 idea was stupefying. British lords ! ladies ! an addition of nine 

 to our already large party of five, in a wilderness which produced 

 nothing, except a store of canned vegetables, and bacon ! It may 

 be imagined that our hostess was appalled, and for the moment 

 prostrated by the announcement. 



A dead silence ensued ; during which a general determination 

 was preparing to grapple with the difficulty. A dinner for British 

 lords and ladies would necessitate soup, fish, entries ; some piece 

 de resistance, game, sweets, and dessert. 



"We'll manage it, if possible," replied Mrs. Peters; "but we 

 must all help. We must sweep out the entrance, and make a 

 large table with some planks. With a nice clean table-cloth, who 

 will know 1 We can gather some wild flowers and coloured berries, 

 and make a pretty decoration. We have soup in tins. Now we've 

 got our table ready, and the soup. My husband and Mr. Alston 

 have a net, and they must catch fish; there are plenty in the 



