At St. Mary's 



train ; and from there the united parties 

 proceeded toward the Rocky Mountains, 

 which, looming up in the hazy air, fogged 

 by smoke from the numerous prairie fires, 

 looked big and formidable, and but a stone's 

 throw away. 



But a good part of three days were 

 consumed in reaching those mountains. 

 Though they did seem near at hand, they 

 proved to be fifty miles distant by road. 



On the third day an early camp was 

 made on the St. Mary's River ; and as this 

 seemed to be about as far as wagons could 

 go in these parts, here we concluded to 

 make our permanent headquarters during 

 our week's sojourn in these mountains. 



And so, with our tent doors facing the 

 stream and but twenty feet away from its 

 waters, here in this beautiful valley we went 

 into camp and were happy. 



Preparations were immediately made for 

 sport. Rods, reels, and lines were soon 

 assembled, shotguns unpacked, belts filled 

 with ammunition; and in an hour the en- 

 thusiastic sportsmen of the party were 

 enjoying themselves with that intense 

 pleasure known only to the eager angler or 

 hunter when he finds himself in a preserve 

 rich with his especial game. 



But of that party two members were not 

 267 



