CHAPTER VI 



Collecting Extinct Animals 



For over three weeks we camped here, one day being" 

 very like another. Our routine began at a quarter before 

 five, just before sun-up, when Billy called, "roll up your 

 beds, boys!" (He had been out since four, having a tiny 

 buzzing clock which we termed the "rattlesnake" to wake 

 him.) It took but a few minutes to crawl out of our beds 

 and resume the few articles of clothing we could spare at 

 night, and to wash in our special pool. We had made a 

 series of water holes, the first and main one being sacred 

 to the water buckets, even these not dipped in, but filled 

 with a cup, the second for the horses to drink from, and 

 the last for washing. This last was a hasty operation; for 

 in the morning the water was like ice and the stove much 

 more attractive. Breakfast was at five and a hearty meal; 

 after which Billy and one of the boys straightened up 

 camp, Avhile the remaining two of us started out to find 

 the horses, which were usually feeding a couple of miles 

 from camp. After bringing them in, feeding them, and 

 turning them out again, everything was ready; so that 

 by seven we closed up the tent and started for the hill, 

 each man with his pick in his hand and a bag on his back, 

 containing hammer, chisels, awls, brushes, cloth for band- 

 ages, flour, shellac, and a canteen of water; also his lunch. 



To find specimens one climbed around on the face of the 

 hill, until he came upon some fragment of a bone, which 

 had been weathered out and perhaps rolled down the hill. 

 This was traced upward until the bone from which it and 

 perhaps other fragments were detached, was found. This, 

 technically called a "lead," was carefully uncovered to as- 

 certain how much of it was there, and if enough were pre- 



