The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-12-12
[Continued from Noc. 2s.l
A ROUGH TRIP.
How we Came Down From the North Ten
Years Ago.
For the Neo North West, By &C. s."

How We Came Down From the NORTH Aen
Years Ago.
For the Neso North West, BY &c. B."
THE Low GROUND OF RED River
afforded quite q contrast to the upper air,
which was still cold enough to CONCEAL mer-
curry, but the camp was not warm, and after
thro wing few oats to the tired horses, the
three crowded closely together under tho
blankets, where they each had taken BIS
cult to nibble on a. the warmth Of tho body
thawed IL out. They anticipated warm cup
of coffee In tho morning. but when day light
appeared it revealed the fact that the coffee
pot had been forgotten, and that the one
small tin cup was unfit for cooking purposes,
and they had disappointment for breakfast,
with q resurrscted biscuit and some aIkah
water ON the side. Tho worst and really
THE MOST DREADED PART OF THE JOURNEY
WAS NOW AHEAD.
1t was the long, gradual ascent Of high
ridge that divides the waters Of Mix river
from these of the NJ arias-a cold and windy
section to travel over even in summer time.
On the north side the storm had spent its
greatest fury and steep drifts and treacherous
hollows became Of frequent occurrence. The
leaders of the team would Sometimes entirely
disappear, and at others the horses were so
hopelessly tangled up that it took an hour to
straighten them out, yet progress was made
and in the evening the party was nearing the
summit. They tried to keep due course,
but owing to the crystalized air, which mag
nified everything, the Rockies and Sweet
Grass Hills, although ssventy-fivs miles
away, locked no further off than six, and
this phsnsmena caused variation in diractisn.
There was only one point where a descent Of
the steep south side could be accomplished,
and that was by the wagon road. They were
In anxious doubt about finding it, when all
at once, far off to tho left, there appeared
A SMALL BLACK SPOT,
so intensely black in all the whiteness that
curiosity prompted its inspection, and Sandy
made for it. No sooner had he reached there
for the others to csme to him. It was . bare
spot Of ground with well-cut wagon tracks
upon 1t that pointed out the way, and follow
ing the direction they sson wore on the
grade leading quickly down to the Rocky
Springs, noted camping ground and rsndez-
vous for numerous war parties and hostile
Indians. Here they halted and disposed Of
their last bread and some good water. The
snow rapidly became lighter as they went
down, and soon changed into ice-along
which the ox-yekes few with the swiftness
Of cutter. At the bottom they reached
night and 'Alkali Flat with patches Of bare
bat III tha,v ,sJ II fha >od
could no longer be distinguished; then the
horses were unhitchod aud hobbled, and the
tired men fastened into the common bed.
NIGHT ALARM.
Hardly had they stretched their weary
limbs and courted feeling Of warmth, when
Manning said: "Harkw Some persons were
yelling in the far distance on ahead, and the
noise was approaching. Sandy at once con-
jectursd that it must be war party, As he
could not imagine any one else to Be travel
ing so noisely at such an hour, and he called
to Manning to come quickly and select the
two best horses. &C." now thought that tho
hour of abandonment had como, and in q
considerable state Of trepidation he tried to
think in what form Old Death would appear.
The voices came nearer and nearer, until
at last words were distinguished which are
not found in an English dictionary, but
which are in frequent use by the buli-driver
of the plains and addressed to his team in .
forcible manner. Life took new lease and
the air felt warmer. 1t was a train that was
coming, travelling in the night to take advan-
tage of frozen ground in the low country.
They were old acquaintance from Benton,
bound for the North with provisions for tho
Manitoba Mounted Police. Learning of the
temporarily closed country On ahead, and
the forlorn condition of their infornants,
they halted and erected eommodious lodge,
in which a wood fire was soon chesrily bla-
Zing, and
SEVERAL DUsKY "PRAIRIE WIVES"
busted themselves to prepare meal from q
water and a bountiful meal made the ox-yoks
travellers forget their hardships, and great
part Of that comfortable night was passed BY
such stories offrontier adventures a. can emily
DO told advantagsously by the camp fire.
WARNER COUNTRY.
Sandy was warned that further down the
Flat they would find ssft mud instead Of ice,
and so 1t proved next day, after leaving the
(who were going to make q stay
camp at Rocky Spring., but the ox-yokes had
BY this time become SO smooth that they
glided through the soft alkaIi mud as though |
1t were their element. &C" received plenty |
Of 1t. both from the hosfs Of the horses and |
the short curves Of the runners. After four
teen miles swift travel they crossed the Ma. |
rias on the ice, and found themselves at
SOL ABBoTr's TRADING POST
On the evening Of November 80. They took |
advantage Of eld-tims frontier hospitality |
and remained until the 9th Of December.
During the lay-over Manning found his cat
lie, and Sandy constructed another novel
continuance cut Of two wheels and o dry
goods box. in which to transport &C" to Sun
liver.
RIB FOR PAIR OF LEGS.
At this Post, while &C" was repairing lis
burnt fsot one day, he became an object Of
much curiosity to band OF Black feet that
were encampsd here with their Chief, Bad
Robes. The old Chief thought man who
could walk around with half Of his bones
gone must be Big Medicine, and he offered
The supposed medicine man the present Of a
little blind squaw.
STRUCK CIVILIZATION AGAIN.
From this point Sandy took his passsn niger
IN the two wheels, to which fresh horses had
been attached-and rough drive of forty.
I've miles over a roadless prairie, cut up by
nnumsrable dog and badger holes, brought
hem to the bluffs Of the Teton, which they
could not ascend, however. on account OF