ON THE SHEEP RANGES 49 



solemn stillness prevailed. A deep calm pervaded the 

 basins, meadows, and wilderness below, causing a weird 

 impression of the solitude. Not a sound of any kind 

 was audible; not a creature visible. Never did I feel 

 more alone. In this northern twilight there was just 

 enough darkness to cause a feeling of awe at the dim 

 and silent grandeur of the surroundings. I slowly walked 

 on all night, from mountain to mountain, and descended 

 to the gorge of the stream in the south basin, proceeded 

 through it with difficulty, and went down the creek tow- 

 ard camp. At three in the morning a heavy frost spread 

 over the country, and a little later, above and below, all 

 glittered and sparkled like diamonds in the rising sun. 



July 22. Arriving in camp at 5.30 A. M. I made a fire, 

 had some tea, a bite to eat, and then slept until two in 

 the afternoon. As rain threatened, the rest of the day 

 was passed in camp. Rungius had the body of the cow 

 caribou suspended by ropes and propped by stakes, so 

 that he could change it to various attitudes and sketch it, 

 and Osgood prepared the small mammals that he had 

 taken in his traps. Wolverines were common in the vi- 

 cinity, but only one was seen by Osgood. Minks were 

 abundant along the creek near camp. Arctic weasels 

 were there, though none were caught in the traps, and a 

 few martens undoubtedly existed in the timber along 

 the creek. The Dawson red-backed mouse and the In- 

 terior vole were the only two species of mice observed 

 near timber-line. 



The day before Osgood had climbed a mountain 

 rising from the basin south of camp, and on it had found 



