82 THE ARCTIC PRAIRIES 



To break up our party did not fit in at all with our 

 plans, so, after another brief stormy debate in which 

 the guide took no part, we turned without crossing the 

 Little Buffalo, and silently, savagely, began the home- 

 ward journey; as also did the httle Indian dog. 



Next morning we crossed the Salt River at a lower 

 place where was a fine, hard bottom. That afternoon 

 we travelled for 6 miles through a beautiful and level 

 country, covered with a forest of large poplars, not 

 very thick; it will some day be an ideal cattle-range, 

 for it had rank grass everywhere, and was varied by 

 occasional belts of jack-pine. In one of these Preble 

 found a nest with six eggs that proved to be those of 

 the Bohemian Chatterer. These he secured, with pho- 

 tograph of the nest and old bird. It was the best find 

 of the journey. 



The eggs proved of different incubation — at least a 

 week's difference — showing that the cool nights neces- 

 sitated immediate setting. 



We camped at Salt River mouth, and next afternoon 

 were back at Fort Smith, having been out five days and 

 seen nothing, though there were tracks of Moose and 

 Bear in abundance. 



Here our guide said good-bye to us, and so did the 

 Indian dog. 



