Homesteading 



lake. It was more or less surrounded with dwarf 

 willows and poplars, and had two small farm- 

 steadings on the other or north side, while several 

 other shacks were visible, and also a school- 

 house. 



Remarking that we should be quicker with 

 the buggy, Bob brought out a pony and hitched 

 her up, saying she had brought him three 

 colts in three years ; and though that vehicle 

 is only intended for two, Tom perched himself 

 on my knees, and away we went. 



" You have had some experience," said Bob, 

 " and while I want to help you, I had rather 

 not take the responsibility of advising any par- 

 ticular homestead. You see, it's not easy to say 

 how a homestead will really turn out until you 

 come to work it. I dare say you know that there 

 is a plant that is said to indicate the presence 

 of water, and another with a little white berry 

 that shows the land is good where it grows ; but, 

 certainly, I should not like to give an opinion 

 as to water. Then there is alkali ; though I 

 have not heard of it about here, there may be 

 some under the sod in parts." 



We were now fairly on the hunt for homesteads, 

 and it certainly was interesting going to one 

 square half-mile of land after another, with the 

 prospect of owning one of them as a freehold, 



58 



