CHAPTER XVIII 

 OFF FOR THE WILDS 



FOR years I have been dreaming, at times by night, 

 but more often by broad daylight, of that time in some 

 far-off wilderness of the extreme northwest of this 

 great continent, when, accoutered with rifle and hunt- 

 ing-knife, I should meet a big, fine specimen of the 

 ursus horribilis, or in plain English a grizzly bear, face 

 to face, and should down him. 



In consequence of this yearning, during the early 

 part of the year much time was spent in correspond- 

 ence with game commissioners, game wardens, railway 

 officials, hunters and guides regarding the most likely 

 locality for coming in contact with his majesty the 

 grizzly. From all accounts, the Bear Lake region, in 

 the far northwestern part of British Columbia, seemed 

 to offer the best chance of success. 



The good offices of the Philadelphia representative 

 of the Canadian Pacific Railroad were solicited, and he 

 took care that we should have the best attention from 

 the officials along his line. Our party consisted of Dr. 

 "W. E. Hughes, of Philadelphia, scientist with Peary's 

 first expedition ; Dr. W. J. Roe, of the staff of the Jef- 

 ferson Hospital ; Dr. "W. R. Roe, his brother ; and the 

 writer. 



