286 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA YS 
CHAP. 
London, but he now devoted himself to hewing 
wood when it was required, fetching water from the 
spring if he wanted it, and in doing everything in 
America which he never had been called to do in 
England. 
It was a healthy existence. They all enjoyed 
their youth and strength. There was no doctor 
for several hundred miles ; no clergyman; no church ; 
no cemetery ;—but plenty of fresh air and occupa¬ 
tion. No person drank anything but water, unless 
tea or coffee. A few years before our arrival there 
was plenty of game among the willow thickets 
bordering the Powder river, and venison could 
always be obtained from the black-tail and white-tail 
deer without much trouble ; but continual shooting 
had driven them away, and although the animals 
existed, they had become both scarce and wary. 
There was no garden, as there was not sufficient 
rain ; and labour was not to be procured for love 
or money. It was cheaper to purchase fruits and 
vegetables prepared in tins in California than to 
attempt the production by home industry. These 
were at the same time dear, owing to the great 
expense of transport for about 240 miles from Rock 
Creek station on the Union Pacific Railroad. 
Living was primitive under these conditions, and 
we were much afraid that, notwithstanding our 
friends’ warm hospitality, we must put them to a 
certain amount of inconvenience. 
The morning following our arrival, a man arrived 
in charge of three mules laden with baggage. This 
