48 EXPLORATIONS IN THE FAR NORTH 



southward, toward Chief Mountain on the international bound- 

 ary. The wind blew almost unceasingly from the westward, 

 bringing snow squalls from the mountains. Our lodge was full 

 of holes and the cold wind made our camps very uncomfortable. 

 We spent several days in wading through soft, slushy snow on 

 the hard crust of winter. In crossing deep gulches we were 

 compelled to cut footholds with our knives as we ascended 

 the walls of snow. Our only provision consisted of the ban- 

 nocks Mrs. Peter had baked on the eve of our departure and 

 clear side bacon; experience had taught me to furnish as little 

 food as I could exist upon myself if I expected to have the 

 Indian really hunt for the game. 



We saw old sheep trails along the mountain sides, but neither 

 sheep nor recent tracks. Peter concluded that after two Sun- 

 days they would come down from their winter haunts in the 

 back ranges to graze, but that they were as yet beyond our 

 reach. Not satisfied with the failure of this attempt, I engaged 

 the services of a ranchman, who accompanied me thirty miles 

 into the mountains, through the Crow Nest pass to the summit 

 of the chain. We spent a week in that wild and rugged region, 

 seeing only six sheep, two of which I wounded at long range 

 but did not secure, though I followed them several hours over 

 dangerous ground. It was the worst season possible to hunt 

 big horn and I ought not have attempted it. 



The Stoney Indians are the best men to employ as assistants 

 in hunting in these mountains, as they are industrious hunters 

 and experienced mountain climbers. 



The last week of my stay in this locality was spent at the 

 ranch of the Eddy Brothers. These two gentlemen hospitably 

 invited me to "bach" with them as long as I wished and gave 

 me every assistance in their power during my stay. 



The sharp-tailed grouse and a few species of small deer were 

 common in the bush covering the foothills, but the summer 

 residents had not yet appeared, owing to the unusually late 

 spring. While in the pass I secured several prime marten skins. 

 Tracks of black and grizzly bears were seen, but these animals 

 were not common and no specimens were secured. 



The past, typified by bleaching skulls and deep-worn trails of 

 the buffalo days, has been succeed id by a present of barbed 

 wire fences which, in many cases, extend for miles without in- 



