The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-24
Written for the Standard.

Written lOF the standard. ....
One morning in the early part Of Oc-
| tober, 1898. I babe adieu to the crowded
| city of Butte for an outing in the Swan
river country, trip which had been
| promising myself for months. The next
day found me in Drummond, a town
few hours was rolling over the coun-
try on the stage plying between Drum
mond and Ovando. The journey of
about 40 miles was exceedingly pleas
ant and / enjoyed the drive amazingly.
1t was well on in the afternoon when
the stage reached the little village Of
Ovando and seldom have I seen love-
lier spot. The great mountain ranges
stretched out all around, vast and mys-
FERROUS and tinted with the coIors Of
the setting sun. The green and gold of
the western sky, fecked and streaked
with bars Of gorgeous red, slowly
changed into orange and crimson as the
sun sank lower and lower. until at last
1t seemed as If the very gateway of
heaven must open where the descending
orb touched the mountain rim. Ovando
Is prosperous, wideaWake little place,
and here I QUILTED for my trip, laying
in stock of fishing tackle, ammuni-
and liquid fish bait. Here ! hired a
team and wagon for drive of about
40 miles into the mountains, and, as the
road was somewhat rough in places, it
was almost dark when we reached our
destination. 1t was the cabin of a
rancher and trapper who had settled on
the bank of small lake, but to our sur
prise he was not at home on our ar
rival. I afterwards discovered that
among the mail brought out by my
driver was included my letter advising
my host of my proposed trip.
The cabin door was unlocked, so we
entered and made ourselves comfortable
for the night. There was no lack of
grub; outside the cabin hung the hind
quarters of newly killed whitehall
deer. and, as I had brought some lex
tras' with me, we soon satisfied our APP
petites. The driver explained to me in
a reassuring way that Pete had prob
ably gone off to look at some traps and
would soon return; if not that night,
then at all events next day. The cabin
door, as l have already said. had been
left unlocked; some freshly baked bread
reposed in an iron wash boiler and, al
together, appearances We're in favor CT
Pete's early return. We turned in soon
after supper and I soon slept the sleep
of the just.
was awakened next morning by the
breakfast. He banged kettles down on
the stove and he slammed tin cups on
the table until I took the hint and
dressed myself. I learned that he was
in hurry to return; he had to be back
that evening and wanted an early start.
Pete, he felt sure, would show up by
noon and could make myself at home
in the meantime. 7 felt no uneasiness,
and after breakfast I viewed the de-
parture of the teamster with perfect
equanin1ity. / then wrote short note
to Pete and, pinning it down on the
table where it would catch his eye, /
shouldered my rifle and sailed forth to
look around. l had been warned TO look
out for bear traps, and shortly before
noon / ran across one of them. The
iron trap, which lay within the pen,
had been chained to a trimmed log
8 or 10 inches in diameter and about II
feet in length. The end of the chain to
which the trap was attached was ex-
posed, showing plainly the big iron ring
encircling the clog, so, after fixing the
details of its construction in my mind,
went on my way through the forest.
BY noon had left the lake some miles
to the south, as / thought, and I de-
cided after eating lunch to retrace my
steps. On my way back l saw an elk.
He was magnificent buck, with lots
Of prongs on his horns. and not 80 yards
away. In the excitement l never
thought of shooting at him and before
T recovered from my surprise he went
plunging through the trees and out OF
sight. thought that would reach the