98 WITH GUN AND GUIDE 



the fact that I had crowded into those eight clays more 

 of continually changing incident, of changing scenery, 

 and of unique experience than in 'any other like period 

 of time in my life. 



It had been, with the exception of a portion of one 

 forenoon when we waited on a dead-water for the wind 

 to go down, or to change, an unending strenuous hunt, 

 in spite of wind, rain, cold or heat. 



The nights were always cold, and the days remark- 

 ably warm for the season. The hunt was now really 

 over, and unless we could strike something on the 

 journey back to the settlement which would take 

 three days we would reach Fredericton empty- 

 handed. 



On the morning of the 9th of October, having break- 

 fasted early, fed the horses and loaded the dunnage on 

 the wagon ready for the long trip, the cavalcade left 

 at seven o'clock. 



On the journey " in " I had thought it best to ride 

 on horseback, which I did with much comfort and 

 pleasure. Now, however, I determined to make the 

 return trip on foot, as I felt hardened and muscular 

 enough to walk any reasonable distance without 

 fatigue. 



Henry planned that he and I should take a different 

 route from that followed by the team for the first day, 

 so as to be out of hearing of the crunching noise the 

 wheels made on the hard flinty stones as the wagon 



