304 WITH GUN AND GUIDE 



The hours dragged slowly along during the fore- 

 noon, and nothing appeared to divert the mind ex- 

 cepting a very large flock of that lively little bird, the 

 crested flycatcher. These birds flew from tree to 

 tree, backward and forward, for an hour or more, 

 their numbers constantly augmenting, until at a signal 

 from one or more of the leaders among them they all, 

 to the number of hundreds, started on a flight to the 

 southland. Another cold lunch of boiled rice was 

 eaten, and the afternoon arrived ; still no signs of any- 

 thing exciting. 



Finally I saw a swaying willow bush, and then 

 another, and yet another. Mentally I said : " At last, 

 at last, I'm to have a shot." The hammer of the rifle 

 was pulled back, and, expecting to see a bear every 

 instant, I was on the keen edge of suspense, when the 

 agile form of Kibbee came into view. He had been 

 making his way up to me as swiftly and as silently as 

 he could. 



The horses he had left a piece down the trail, so as 

 not to disturb things if any game was within sight or 

 hearing. The time was half-past three in the after- 

 noon. It looked as if another great storm were brew- 

 ing, for the wind was already gathering quite a veloc- 

 ity, and, although I had come prepared to lie out all 

 night, the certainty of a windy and stormy period de- 

 cided us against such a plan. 



This was now the last day, and the chances were 



