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AUDUBON 



saw a large athletic man who has crossed the mountains 

 twice to the Pacific; he is a Thiladelphian, named Wallis, 

 who had been a cook at Fort Union four years, but who 

 had finally deserted, lived for a time with the Crows, and 

 then joined the Opposition. These persons were very 

 polite to us, and invited us to remain and take supper 

 with them ; but as I knew they were short of provisions, 

 I would not impose myself upon them, and so, with thanks 

 for their hospitality, we excused ourselves and returned to 

 Fort Union. As we were in search of birds, we saw a 

 small, whitish-colored Wolf trotting across the prairie, 

 which hereabouts is very extensive and looks well, though 

 the soil is poor. We put Peter to a trot and gained on 

 the Wolf, which did not see us until we were about one 

 hundred yards off; he stopped suddenly, and then went 

 off at a canter. Harris gave the whip to Peter, and off 

 we went, evidently gaining rapidly on the beast, when it 

 saw an Indian in its road; taking fright, it dashed to one 

 side, and was soon lost in a ravine. We congratulated 

 ourselves, on reaching the fort, that we had such good 

 fortune as to be able to sup and sleep here, instead of at 

 Fort Mortimer. Bell had taken a walk and brought in a 

 few birds. The prairie is covered with cacti, and Harris 

 and I suffered by them ; my feet were badly pricked by 

 the thorns, which penetrated my boots at the junction of 

 the soles with the upper leathers. I have to-day heard 

 several strange stories about Grizzly Bears, all of which 

 I must have corroborated before I fully accept them. 

 The Otters and Musk-rats of this part of the country are 

 smaller than in the States; the first is the worst enemy 

 that the Beaver has. 



June 24-, Saturday. Bell killed a small Wolf last night, 

 and Harris wounded another. This morning Provost started 

 at daylight, and Bell followed him ; but they returned with- 

 out game. After breakfast Harris went off on horseback, 

 and brought in a Sharp-tailed Grouse. He saw only one 



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