A LOST MOOSE 71 



and tried to get by firing from a very awk- 

 ward position, partly lying on my left side. I 

 missed him by a foot, and he was gone in- 

 stantly. The native Indians and some of the 

 white residents kill a large number of sheep 

 and cache them for winter food. 



At the foot of the lake the pack horses were 

 assembled and loaded with our dunnage, am- 

 munition, spare rifles, and some supplies. 

 Here I first met Charley, the horse I was to 

 ride, while Billie was sent off loaded with a 

 pack like any common mule. The caravan 

 got away in good time in the early afternoon. 

 After covering five miles of travel we forded 

 a river, and on the farther side an almost per- 

 pendicular ridge loomed up before us. It 

 was a novel sight to see the mules and horses 

 zig-zag their tortuous way up this stiff piece 

 of trail. With the exception of one pack 

 which turned, all went well, and when the 

 sun was about to set we pitched camp upon a 

 high elevation, ate our supper, and soon went 

 to sleep. 



The half day's ride on Charley, the horse, 

 was a continual torture. Changing the sad- 

 dle was tried, and the stirrups were adjusted 

 over and over again,. but all to no use. The 

 following day the situation did not improve 



