Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-10-01

After a few days in the vicinity L
moved my supplies to Moore's trading
post. From this point I was obliged
to go such long distances that it was
economy of time to camp out. had
engaged as guide for this part Of my
work-a regular savage, one who knew
the country and every trail through
the mountains. He was blind In one
eye and could never have boosted Of
large amount of beauty at any time;
his griZzIed hair was tied in a knot
with cotton twine; about his head he
wore black rag, the remains Of silk
handkerchief; his shirt was of gaudy
calico; his neither garments were
cheap trousers of American make, and
his feet were encased in the usual
buckskin moccasins. My cavalier
avantes rode ahead, occasionally look
ing back with hideous one-eyed grin
intended for reassuring smile.
From sunrise until sunset we rode
through mountain trails hunting for
ajos drive their sheep up out of their
heated valleys into the cool mountain
benches, where water is plentiful. |
found my gentle savage most helpful;
by daylight the horses were run in and
fed, the fire made and my coffee boil
ing before I had emerged from my
blankets. I carried my own coffee and
some light provisions, but usually
managed to strike hogan at noon and
get some native bread and mutton
stewed or broiled on the Goals. Some
times slept out under the stars, some
times under rude shelter of brush
and poles at sheep camp. 1t is not
altogether pleasant to sleep within a
few feet of flock Of sheep and goats
huddled close to the fire kept burning
in front of the shelter to scare away
the bears and wolves. Frequently my
guide pointed out bear tracks, but we
encountered no bears. 1t is not ex-
actly agreeable to feel sheep ticks
travelling across your countenance, or
to have sand rattle down from the
open work roof upon your head, and
sleeping in ones clothes becomes mo-
notonous; but one realizes how very
few our real necessities are.
Il had intended spending the last
night at Little Water School, as my
work was in that direction at the last
But night overlook us in the noun
tains, and we were obliged to camp at
a sheep camp, where we found an old
man and two young girls; they point
ed out hogan for us to sleep in. 1t
was beautiful hogan, built of peeled
logs Of uniform size; was pentagonal
in shape and unusually large and
high. 1t was evidently a medicine
lodge. Lifting the blanket which did
duty as a door [ discovered a small
fire burning in the center of the ho-
gan and near it an old man reclined
on sheepskin. My guide soon replen-
ished the fire and put on the coffee
pot. The old man who owned the
sheep brought us some native bread in
a basket of Navajo make, and with
some canned meat our bill of fare was
complete. Presently another native
appeared, visitor. One of the girls
brought in several sheepskins for my
bed. [ rolled myself in my blanket
and soon slept Old man number one,
the visitor and my guide also slept in
the hogan also.
Almost before daylight my gentle
savage was up and out after the
horses, and before sunrise had my cot
fee ready. He brought me a highly
decorated bowl, such as the natives
use, full of clear water and I made
a slight toilet. The native whole wheat
bread was rather hard, but by soaking
it in coffee it was possible to eat it.
Reserving two of the fiat cakes for our
dinner, we returned the basket to the
owner, and, learning that the trail to
Little Water was rocky and steep and
the distance considerable, I concluded
to work along toward Fort Defiance,
and get in there by night. We found
the trails so bad that it was necessary
often to get down and lead the horses.