XXIV 
THE WAPITI 
287 
was an extraordinary event, and everybody rushed 
out to meet the stranger, directly that his approach 
had been reported. 
“Who was he?”—“What was he?”—“Where did 
he come from?”—“What baggage was that?”— 
“Where was it going to?”—“Was anybody com¬ 
ing ?” All these questions were put without waiting 
for a reply ; until at length the mule-driver spoke ; 
his words produced utter consternation. 
“Well, all I know is this. For the last week 
I’ve done nothing but haul baggage for a lot of 
British lords and ladies, and this is some of it in 
advance. A lot more is on the road, and there’s 
a heap of ’em all coming here to-night to dine and 
sleep, and maybe stay a few days before they go 
up the Big Horn to shoot.” 
“ British lords and ladies! A lot of ’em 
coming here to - night to dine and sleep, and 
maybe stay a few days! ” murmured our kind 
hostess in deep despair. “ Impossible; it can’t be 
true ; who are they ? Have you got a note ?” 
“No, I haven’t got a note, as they said you’ll 
understand. Let me see, I think I can recollect 
some of their names. There’s M-and his wife 
and sister; there’s a Captain and Mrs. G-; 
that’s five. There’s Lord M-and the Hon. 
Mr. L-; that’s seven. There’s Mr. P- 
and Mr. B-; that’s nine. I don’t think there 
are any more, but perhaps there may be : I guess 
that’s about enough to crowd you up, isn’t it ? ” 
The first shock of this sudden intelligence was 
