ONE SOURCE OF THE QU'APPELLE. 



347 



meat. A couple of table-spoonfuls of tea, and a small 

 plug of tobacco, always ensured a hearty welcome, and in 

 return they generally presented me with a choice piece of 

 buffalo meat from a fat cow, or a small skin of marrowfat. 

 One of the young men took a fancy to a checked flannel 

 shirt I was wearing at the time, and offered his saddle for 

 it ; declining the bargain, he added his bow and a quiver 

 of arrows ; I told him to bring the bow and arrows to 

 my tent at night, and I would give him a new shirt for 

 them. He said he should prefer a white one, and then 

 the buffalo would not mind him ; and when he came to 

 complete his bargain, he selected a white jersey in prefer- 

 ence to a showy coloured check. From time to time, 

 scouts would come in and go out towards the Grand Coteau, 

 on the look out for Blackfeet, and as nightfall approached, 

 the wandering horses were gathered closer to the camp. 

 The dogs, however, are their great protection ; it is almost 

 impossible for any stranger to approach a camp without 

 arousing the whole canine population ; and the passage 

 of bands of buffalo during the night-time is signalised by 

 a prolonged baying, which, however suggestive of sport 

 and good cheer, is most wearisome to those who are 

 anxious to rest. During the night a heavy rain filled the 

 hollows with water, and gave us promise of an abundant 

 supply until we arrived at the Sandy Hills, where the 

 main body of Plain Crees were encamped. On the follow- 

 ing day, the 28th, I rode to the Eye-brow Hill range, a 

 prolongation of the Grand Coteau, and distant from the 

 Qu'appelle Valley about four miles. It was there that 

 the Indians told me I should find one of the sources of the 

 Qu'appelle river. After an hour's ride I reached the 

 hills, and quickly came upon a deep ravine at the bottom 

 of which bubbled a little stream about three feet broad. 

 I subsequently followed its course until it entered the 



