band, was but fifty miles in the rear, and pushing forward with all speed.  This caused some bustle in the camp; for it was important to get first to the buffalo ground to secure provisions for the journey.  As the horses were too heavily laden to travel fast, a cache was digged, as promptly as possible, to receive all superfluous baggage.  Just as it was finished, a spring burst out of the earth at the bottom.  Another cache was therefore digged, about two miles further on; when, as they were about to bury the effects, a line of horsemen with pack-horses, were seen streaking over the plain, and encamped close by.

It proved to be a small band in the service of the Hudson’s Bay Company, under the command of a veteran Canadian; one of those petty leaders, who, with a small party of men, and a small supply of goods, are employed to follow up a band of Indians from one hunting ground to another, and buy up their peltries.

Having received numerous civilities from the Hudson’s Bay Company, the captain sent an invitation to the officers of the party to an evening regale; and set to work to make jovial preparations.  As the night air in these elevated regions is apt to be cold, a blazing fire was soon made, that would have done credit to a Christmas dinner, instead of a midsummer banquet.  The parties met in high good-fellowship.  There was abundance of such hunters’ fare as the neighborhood furnished; and it was all discussed with mountain appetites.  They talked over all the events of their late campaigns; but the Canadian veteran had been unlucky in some of his transactions; and his brow began to grow cloudy.  Captain Bonneville remarked his rising spleen, and regretted that he had no juice of the grape to keep it down.

A man’s wit, however, is quick and inventive in the wilderness; a thought suggested itself to the captain, how he might brew a delectable beverage.  Among his stores was a keg of honey but half exhausted.  This he filled up with alcohol, and stirred the fiery and mellifluous ingredients together.  The glorious results may readily be imagined; a happy compound of strength and sweetness, enough to soothe the most ruffled temper and unsettle the most solid understanding.

The beverage worked to a charm; the can circulated merrily; the first deep draught washed out every care from the mind of the veteran; the second elevated his spirit to the clouds.  He was, in fact, a boon companion; as all veteran Canadian traders are apt to be.  He now became glorious; talked over all his exploits, his huntings, his fightings with Indian braves, his loves with Indian beauties; sang snatches of old French ditties, and Canadian boat songs; drank deeper and deeper, sang louder and louder; until, having reached a climax of drunken gayety, he gradually declined, and at length fell fast asleep upon the ground.  After a long nap he again raised his head, imbibed another potation of the “sweet and strong,” flashed up with another slight blaze of French gayety, and again fell asleep.