SURVIVING A BLIZZARD. 107 



corn-bread in the other, he prepared to eat his Christ- 

 mas dinner as he travelled. 



The change of drivers was very acceptable, for the 

 young fellow told many stories of interesting inci- 

 dents of life among the Indians. While they were 

 ascending a steep bank after crossing a small stream, 

 the young fellow began peering into the bushes, and 

 remarked that there were a good many deer in that 

 vicinity. Suddenly he stopped and whispered : 



" There's one now. Don't you see him?" 



Looking in the direction pointed, Dyche saw a 

 magnificent pair of antlers and a large body dimly 

 showing in the bushes. 



" Get down quick and get out your gun," whispered 

 the driver. " He's a big fellow." 



As the guns were strapped under the seat, Dyche 

 answered that it was too cold and he was too stiff 

 to shoot. Driving towards the deer the young man 

 showed a cunningly contrived ruse. A deer's antlers 

 were fastened to a stump and a gunny-sack formed 

 the body. 



" I have seen over a hundred shots fired at that 

 deer," said he, and from the appearance of the trees 

 and bushes in the vicinity he undoubtedly told the 

 truth. The fort was reached just at dark, and Dyche 

 was cared for by Decker, the Indian trader. 



For three days a blizzard howled, and during that 

 time all hunting was an impossibility; but Dyche 

 spent the time of enforced idleness in getting ac- 

 quainted with the Indians of the vicinity, and learn- 

 ing from them the condition of the country and the 

 haunts of game. When the storm broke, Dyche took 



