i8 
SQUATTING. 
was a wholly unimproved portion of the plains ; 
its only trace of human occupancy being a mud- 
and-pole cabin. It was before the days of any 
government organization of that region, and the 
way in which such property was obtained was 
by putting up something that, by common con- 
sent, could be called a house, and, in the ex- 
pressive dialect of the frontier, “ squatting ! ” 
The one that “ squatted ” first had the right to 
sell or to continue “ squatting/' and her purchase 
was of this right. Upon her husband's return 
they wished to leave the mines at Central, where 
they had been living, and cultivate her claim. 
Meantime, finding the cabin before mentioned 
empty, a German had concluded to perform a 
feat then common at the West, i. e., “jump ” 
their claim. This meant to take and retain 
possession of it, unless forcibly removed. 
When they arrived they found him cosily 
ensconced under their shelter, surrounded by 
his camp equipage and a number of birds which 
he had mounted. They were the first unfinished 
specimens of taxidermy Mrs. Maxwell had ever 
seen, and she was fascinated with the idea of 
learning to preserve the strange creatures of 
that new land, and offered to pay almost any 
price if he would give her the necessary in- 
struction. 
After exacting a promise that she would not 
