234 TTILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



already stated, he formerly lived near the mouth of 

 the Fourche le Fave, but had moved about fifty miles 

 further west, carrying his kitchen utensils, tools, bed- 

 ding, &c., all on horseback, and driving his cattle and 

 pigs before him to his new home. Difficult as such a 

 move appears, I know of a family which moved three 

 times in one year. 



My old friend cut a glorious figure, as he rode be- 

 side me. He was about six feet tall, and as large 

 boned as a fine figure would allow. A pair of thoroughly 

 honest eyes looked out of a good-humored, weather- 

 beaten face, and were in constant motion, giving great 

 animation to the massive figure. Nobody had ever 

 seen him laugh, but those Avho are well acquainted 

 with him say, that a little Avidening twitch of the 

 mouth, and a slight closing of the corner of the left 

 eye, are certain evidences of good-humor; neither 

 had anybody ever seen him go faster than at a quick 

 walk — he seemed to consider it beneath his dignity to 

 run. A well-worn black coat, with large pockets and 

 flaps, was thrown over his shoulders, and, notwith- 

 standing the rough weather, his legs were cased in a 

 pair of thin, light-colored trowsers, which rumpled 

 up high enough to show a muscular calf above a short 

 sock; a pair of shoes of his own making covered his 

 feet, while a hat, of any shape but the original, and 

 that had been black, covered his head. The articles 

 in one end of his bag were not heavy enough to 

 balance tlie salt in the other end ; so, to maintain the 

 equilibrium, he was obHged to lean to the left side, 

 and as he had a large basket, containing a Muscovy 

 duck, on the right arm, the horse seemed to be between 



