192 



CHAPTER X. 



LOOKING FOR GAME ON THE TRACK OF WAPITI DEER EN- 

 COUNTER WITH A PUMA AN * OLD HOSS's ' STORY 80ULE AND 



HIS MEN SHAMEFUL TREATMENT OF INDIANS RATTLESNAKES 



DEPARTURE FROM THE CAMP WILD STRAWBERRIES SHOT AT A 



BLACK-TAILED DEER BEAR AND WOLVES EXCITING ADVENTURE. 



THE morning after, I started as soon as day broke, 

 to look for game. There had not been sufficient 

 snow to nil up the old footprints and make tracking 

 good. After traversing lengthwise the piece of 

 timber in which our shanty stood, I determined, as 

 the day was still young, to branch off to the north- 

 west, to a part that I believed was rarely or never 

 disturbed. The wind was bitterly cold across the 

 open country ; but I struggled against the blast at 

 a three and a-half mile to the hour pace, though, 

 when I accomplished the distance, I was very cold 

 and very blown. A few minutes communion with 

 my pipe, within the shelter of the trees, afforded me 

 relief from these inconveniences. 



On a close examination of the vicinity I saw 

 every reason to congratulate myself on the course I 

 had taken, for the tracks of wapiti deer were most 

 abundant. In one place in particular, where there 

 was a slight depression in the soil, which was entirely 

 free from shrubs, and had a slimy appearance, the 



