CHAPTER VIII. 



BREAKING UP OF THE PRAIRIE CAMP. RETURN TO 

 THE MOUNTAINS. ANTELOPE. CARCAGIEU. 



MR. PALLISER and his friends had been such excellent 

 company, that, when the morning of their departure came, 

 a feeling of genuine regret came over me. But we hunters 

 had been accustomed to many such meetings and tran- 

 sient friendships ; and, after all, this world is but a halt- 

 ing place for humanity. We come, make friends, per- 

 haps enemies, and depart into an unknown eternitr 

 Shortly after a hearty breakfast, we bade our friends fare- 

 well, wished them many a successful hunt, and saw them 

 slowly ride away over the prairie. 



Joe and I now held a council to decide upon our future 

 course. We had secured an abundance of provision, and 

 our packs were of a satisfactory size. Yet it was rather 

 too early to visit a station, and we were still well pro- 

 vided for hunting in the mountains, or trapping beaver. 



(57) 



