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CHAPTER XL 



BEAUTIFUL SCENERY THE CHAIN-MOUSE PLEASANT SHOWER-BATH 



UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO BRING DOWN A BUFFALO COW 



SOLITARY REGION ENDURING FATIGUE BEAUTIFUL LAKE COM- 

 MUNION WITH NATURE WILD DUCK. 



WE encamped at night near a small lake, with a 

 long extent of elevated prairie-land at its north-east 

 end, stretching off to a distant horizon. The bosom 

 of this solitary sheet of water was literally covered 

 with wild ducks, while beaver-houses and musk- 

 rat dwellings were most abundant along its margin. 

 While we were preparing the evening meal, both 

 of these animals were seen in numbers, busily pur- 

 suing their respective avocations. At the hour of 

 sunset, old Sol vouchsafed to show us his face at 

 the moment when he was going to rest, attended 

 by a host of bright-coloured clouds. The varied 

 scenery, at once warmed and softened by the rich 

 yet subdued light, was a fit subject for the brush 

 of any artist. 



The only sound that broke the silence of our 

 contemplations was the voice of a wolf with a sore 

 throat, or some other affection of the bronchial tubes, 

 which every few minutes kept up a most dismal 

 howling as if to solicit sympathy of his friends. 



