244 THE ADVENTURES OF A NATURE GUIDE 



Eskimos pulled up merrily in front of MacMillan's 

 camp. The Eskimos were bound for two or three 

 days' journey into the North, where they hoped 

 to live off the country, and carried only a few pounds 

 of food and a little oil upon their sledges. "They 

 were real explorers," remarks MacMillan. 



The nature guide finds treasures to right and left 

 for his followers in territory which to most people 

 appears barren. 



The mention of a guide usually suggests an 

 expert alpine or Canadian peak climber, a 

 hunting guide in the North, the West, or Africa; 

 an individual who can ride, shoot, cook a meal, 

 pack a horse, and guide a hunting party to its 

 goal. _ , , 



Swiss guides are justly famous for their skill and 

 their bravery on icy, storm-swept precipices and 

 for their patience and endurance in overcoming the 

 dangers and obstacles that beset the way of those 

 who climb into the sky. Only a few people are 

 physically fitted to follow the Swiss guide, and on 

 the whole, peak climbing is a physical triumph. 

 It is well worth while and is certain to continue. 

 But nature guides offer natural history excursions 

 more intellectual in their nature which may be en- 

 joyed by almost everyone. 



Natural history has been incidental to all pre- 

 vious types of guides, while to the nature guide it is 

 the essential feature of every trip. The hunter's 

 chief aim is to find and kill the bear, while that of 



