100 PRAIRIE AXD FOREST. 



I can not leave the Wapitti deer without recording one 

 of the numerous adventures that occurred to me while a 

 resident in the region that they inhabit. As a rule, my con- 

 tretemps in their pursuit were not very exciting, for they 

 are a large animal, and, as I have previously said, far from 

 as wary as many smaller species of the genus ; thus, if the 

 first barrel had not effectually done its work of destruction, 

 the second seldom failed, for it was a rare occurrence for 

 me to draw trigger till within fifty yards. 



I had met in one of the sequestered valleys of the Rocky 

 Mountains, from whence a tributary of the Yellowstone 

 flowed, a couple of wanderers. Two more objectionable 

 beings it would be difficult to find. The veriest offscour- 

 ings of a jail could not excel them in villainy and repulsive- 

 ness of appearance. Still, they were white men, and, as 

 such, were welcomed as brothers ; so we cast lot together, 

 and commenced housekeeping in common. The first night 

 after our meeting a slight amount of disagreeableness oc.- 

 curred, through the elder of my new associates being dis- 

 covered ransacking my pack, as he said, for tobacco. Now, 

 tobacco was scarce in these regions ; and although I would 

 willingly have shared with a friend, still, I objected to be 

 deprived of what was as important to me as my molars by 

 an individual I knew nothing about, and still more, already 

 had acquired an intuitive dislike to. Happily, next day we 

 were joined by a new-comer, or I believe a row would have 

 taken place, for I could see that an entente cordiale existed 

 between the duo far from amicable to my interests. How- 

 ever, the stranger's advent acted as a sedative, and the most 

 acute could not have imagined that aught but the most per- 

 fect comradeship existed among us. Some time after the 

 sun went down a game of euchre was proposed. Never 

 having cared particularly about cards, I said nothing ; so 

 the movement was carried without opposition. The stran- 



