Snow Shoes and Canoes | Page 2

a chief factor, and was the leader in
many of the adventurous expeditions which were made in those days.
He was noted for being a dead shot, and a first-rate hunter whether of
buffalo, elk, or grizzly bear. Sandy had followed him in all his
expeditions, and took the greatest delight in describing them to us.
Having remained at Fort Ross a couple of days, to rest our beasts and
prepare the packages for transport, we set out, Sandy and I leading, and
the two men, Pat Casey and Pierre Lacrosse, following in the rear with
the baggage animals.
We travelled at the rate of about twenty-five miles each day. That
distance being accomplished, we encamped at night under shelter of a
grove of poplars or willows, we being glad of the protection they
afforded; for although the weather was fine, the wind had begun to
blow somewhat cold.
Our beasts having been unloaded were hobbled near at hand, the goods
being piled up so as to form a breastwork in case of an attack. Fuel to
last the night had then to be collected, when the fire was lighted, and
the pot put on to boil.
Supper being ready, we sat round our fire to discuss it, with good
appetites. We then, after a chat for half an hour or so, drawing our
buffalo-robes over us, with our saddles for pillows, lay down to rest,
our feet turned towards the fire. One of us, however, always remained
on guard, to watch the horses, and to give warning should any
Blackfeet Indians or prowling wolves draw near our encampment.
We did not believe that we had much to fear from either one or the
other. The Blackfeet seldom ventured so far north into the territory of

their hereditary enemies the Crees; and should any wolves approach,
the horses would be sure to make their way up to the camp for
protection.
The two hours watch which each of us took in turn made us sleep the
sounder for the remainder of the time. We were all too well inured to
the sort of life to think it any hardship. Just before dawn the last man on
watch roused up the rest of us. The ashes were raked together, fresh
sticks put on, the water boiled for the tea, and a breakfast of slices of
bacon or dried buffalo meat, with flour cakes, prepared us for the toils
of the day.
The country over which we travelled was seldom traversed by white
men. The grass-covered prairie extended often as far as the eye could
reach, here and there hills rising in the distance, or long lines of trees
marking the course of some stream falling into the main river.
We had to cross several of these streams, but at that time of the year
were able to ford them without difficulty, the drought of summer
having greatly diminished their depth.
Sandy and I were jogging along at the head of our party when, as we
reached the summit of a slight hill from which we could obtain an
extensive view over the surrounding country, he stopped and gazed, I
thought somewhat anxiously, around the horizon.
"We must push on faster than we have been going, if we are to reach
Black Fort before bad weather comes on," he observed.
"I see no change in the appearance of the sky," I answered. "There's not
a cloud in any direction, and the wind is as moderate as it was when we
started."
"The sky is blue and cloudless, I'll allow, but it's whiter away in the
nor'ard than I like to see it. There will be wind from that quarter before
long, and the wind won't come alone," said Sandy. "It may not reach us
to-morrow or the next day, and we may be safe within the fort before it
is down upon us."

Though I had a high opinion of Sandy's sagacity, I thought that in this
instance he might be mistaken. It was very important for us to reach the
fort before the snow should cover the ground to any depth. The stores
we were bringing were much required, and the heavily-laden animals
would have great difficulty in making their way through it. Of course I
agreed, as Sandy advised it, that we should push on that day as long as
the light would allow, and that we should make a forced march on the
following day, so that we might reach the fort on the next before
nightfall, which we calculated we should thus be able to do.
Waiting till the two men with the loaded beasts came up, we told them
of our intentions, and ordered them to push on as fast as they could. We
had not gone far, however,