6 A Hunting Trip 



speed, how he managed to keep the road was 

 a mystery; for we could at times scarce make 

 out its outlines through the trees. Like a 

 flash the off horse tripped, fell on his knees, 

 and was dragged for a second or two, when the 

 driver with a " cuss " jerked him onto his feet 

 again as he hissed through his teeth an ex- 

 clamation of fear. For once I lost my nerve 

 and fully realized what a mad ride it was, and 

 what that set expression of the driver's face 

 meant, when he found he would be deprived of 

 the pleasure of a dance with the belle from 

 jNIarble Canyon on the Fraser. 



Arriving at Lillooet in the wee small hours, 

 the team stopped at a quaint old tavern ; and 

 as we alighted from the rig, the proprietor, a 

 typical character of his kind, in his weazen 

 voice, although he was a large robust man past 

 middle life, saluted us with " Howd'e! Come 

 in." Several others, the usual adjuncts of a 

 tavern in a mining town, looked us over ; and as 

 we stepped into the bar-room, one little fellow, 

 strutting up to the bar, began to hammer, 

 shouting at the top of his voice: " Strangers 

 in town, boys ! Let 's have a bumper, let 's 



