THE TRIP TO THE OGILVIE ROCKIES n 



flesh that night and found it excellent, though rather too 

 rich. The character of the country continued the same, 

 and a few birches began to appear where we lunched. 

 We were somewhat worried because of the scant grass for 

 the horses which, however, had become more accustomed 

 to their packs and were going much better. A small black 

 gnat now appeared, and greatly worried them, attacking 

 their chests, bellies and legs, and causing the blood to run 

 freely. Temporary relief was afforded by rubbing them 

 well with wagon grease, brought for this purpose. One 

 horse had cast a shoe and after replacing it we kept on 

 through mossy, swampy muskeg that lay on both sides 

 of the creek, until camp was made near some low but 

 very rough mountains which came close to the creek. 

 The creek continued to be of about the same width, and as 

 we approached the mountains its abrupt descent made 

 the fording more difficult. We slept at eleven, and did not 

 start until 11.30 in the morning. 



July n. Getting breakfast, gathering in the horses 

 (which, owing to the scanty grass, had to range some 

 distance for feed), and packing always required two or 

 three hours or more. Having completely lost all signs 

 of the blazes that marked the route, we worked our way 

 up the creek for a mile to a point where rocky bluffs shut 

 in so close that we were obliged to climb around them 

 and proceed along a steep mountain side. While wading 

 the horses around a point in the stream, where it dashed 

 in rapid descent through a rather wide canon, Danger, 

 the horse in the lead, went around safely, but Nigger lost 

 his footing and fell in the water, so that we were com- 



