"Boys, I allus carries my Guide-Book." (Page 30.)
THE WARDEN OF THE PLAINS
AND OTHER STORIES OF LIFE IN THE
CANADIAN NORTH-WEST
BY
JOHN MACLEAN, M.A., PH.D.,
Author of "Canadian Savage Folk," etc.
ILLUSTRATED BY J. E. LAUGHLIN
TORONTO
WILLIAM BRIGGS
WESLEY BUILDINGS
MONTREAL: C. W. COATES ——— HALIFAX: S. F. HUESTIS
1896
Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year onethousand eight hundred and ninety-six, by WILLIAM BRIGGS, at theDepartment of Agriculture.
CONTENTS.
THE WARDEN OF THE PLAINS
ASOKOA, THE CHIEF'S DAUGHTER
THE SKY PILOT
THE LONE PINE
THE WRITING STONE
AKSPINE
OLD GLAD
THE SPIRIT GUIDE
ALAHCASLA
THE HIDDEN TREASURE
THE WHITE MAN'S BRIDE
THE COMING OF APAUAKAS
THE WARDEN OF THE PLAINS.
In the wide western plains at the base of the Rocky Mountains, wherecountless buffalo once found luxuriant feeding-grounds, the white man'scattle were roaming in tens of thousands. It was the time of the"round up." The cowboys had been scouring the plain for hundreds ofmiles gathering in the cattle and horses, banding them and driving theminto the corral, there to be counted and the young branded.
The "round up" party had camped for the night. Many of them were wearyfrom the hard day's riding, and were sitting or lounging about in thetents or on the open prairie, waiting for the supper which others werepreparing.
"Hello, Jake!" shouted one of these, as a man who seemed to have sprungfrom the prairie, so suddenly had he appeared, rode into the camp.
"All right, Bill," was the reply of the new-comer, uttered in a shortbut friendly tone.
"The boys 'll be right glad t' see ye, Jake, fur we haven't had asermon fur a long time. Ye're the only preacher we fellows have got,and ye're welcome."
"Wall, Bill, ef ye wud follow the trail and no be straying frae theherd, ye wouldna get lost sae often, nur make it sae hard furyerselves, and fur the Gospel cowboys t' find ye."
Jake, or as he ca