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I.S02. i^ H1 flp Fc j/n ^ Entered accord w^ to the Act of the Parliumtut of Canatlu, in the yeai one thouHund ei>,'ht hundreil and ninety-two, by the National Pub- LisiiiNr: Company, Toronto, at the Department of Agriculture. PREFACE. -♦-♦-^ n the yeai ulttire. PON my rt'turn to Toronto lust Ajtril, ni'tw an absence of a year sj)ent in knock in<;' al>out tlie North-West in ratliei* an unusual style, I set niy- selt' the task of U'ritin;;- out a hrief sktjtch of my experience while away, Jis a matter of personal record. Since that time I have luul occasion to show this sketcli of my somewhat uni([ue e.Kperience to a num- ber of friends, with the result that it now takes its present shape. If it attbrds a few hours of interest- ing reading, and throws any light upon life in the North-West Mounted Police and elsewliere to tliose in whose hands it may fall, I shall be well satisfied. C. P. 1). LIFK IN THE Jj^orfeh-Wesl; pReunted f ©lice ANI> OT H P: H S K ETC H KS. -♦-•-•- [ LKFT Toronto one raw, cliccrloHs ni<^^ht in the latter part ot* the month of March, !.S91, with no more definite object in view than to .satisl'y a desire, born of inherent restlessness and curiosity, to cut loose from my then present surroundin<^s and accjuaintances, and to sally forth for a space amidst stran^ei*s and influ- ences new. My circumstances at tlie time were all that any youn<^ man could liave reasonably desired, and althou<(h I would fain liave been classed at this p«'riod amongst those whose wisdom in matters world- ly was sufficient to teach them to know when they were well of!', yet I fear the fact of having taken a step which lacked so little real purpose, and wlierein my prospects and plans were of so vague a descrip- tion, rather counted me out, in this particular, at all events. It was my first flight into the surrounding world undei- such circumstances, and the experience l/lfi hi /III \ii/ l/i - W'rsf Mnnnlnl j^tl'nf. i vvliicli nuturally IuIImwdI my ilijmrtinr undrr tlnsf (••niditiniis, was. to a yoiiu*^ man nl" my s(»mi'\\ liat coii- vciitional tvpf, of so varic*! and iiitncstiii;'' a iiat.ur<', that r have concludrd to liasr a luirl' sketch of the |H'i'ind |»asst'd tlirou^^h, ujkhi tlic cNciits, as I now it- call tlirm, which lud'cll mr tll«'d my d<'])ai'- tuiT, my uomah 1 was not unconscious at the same time that ill luck — if I may use the term - had heretofore playetl rathei" an important j»ai"t than otherwise in many of my comini^s and o-oin^s. In an aniazinirly short time aftei* decidiu*,^ upon ^\\\ • leparture, my [)i'e])arations wei'e complete, and soon aftei- biddini;' incx adieiw I found myself comfortahly ^4 7 'It line outi Jontl dist lilfr 171 fht' Novfh-Wenf Moniiffi'l l^nl'hr •oliiltit III tin' [jjictt'd iii)*l iit ) I tlius invst'll* nor <'!i»^ t ;is to rather Icralily )\\ s'nu- 1 upon I was k -iV I tlicr an con»ini;-s ipou my md soon it'ortaldy (>rd with jn\' own itecnliar IVame ol' nniid at this perioecome a place of some inn()rtance at no very distant date. On arrival of the Pacific express I was .soon under way a^ain, and doomed to two more days and nio-hts of unhi'oken con- linement in the cars throuo-h a country }K)ss(>ssino- few' outward attractions to relieve the tediousness of the lon^ journey, and with few incidents by the way to disturb the serene tupidity of the trip. S !/ifr hi thr iXorth-WpHf Moihiilcd Police. Oil ncjifiii;;; \ViiiMi|»c;^, tin* piairir coiuitry. <»!' wliicli tliis wjis my tirst view, ^r.uli Lilly as.srrt^'tj itscil' ovrr tlir inonotoiiy <»r rocks mikI liaiirmu'ss, \\ liicli s«> ]n*e- (loiniii.ih's .•ilniiM- tliis loutr, jiinl it riM|uin't| snmc IVw iii«)iii('ii(s of rai'iK'st i-(lli'ctinti oil my part to icali/f till! Tact tliat I was now ainnoacliiii;^; that " houtnllfss \Vrst ' wliciciii tin* erst \N liilr |or»llv Imsou wa-; wont to I'oam and wallow at will, l»iit wli <»S(' J :ior\', alas I luis now \;'.iiislH'(|, till !iaiii>lit remains l»iit smi-ldt'aclH'd lioncs as t<'slimon\' ol' tlir wli«)lt'sal«' slaiii^liUT which cxtcrminatiMl this «)1k*<' nohir animal. When within a few miles ol" \Vinni|)«'^^, wliuri' I had after some ddiheration, rcsoKrd to rmiain, for a time, at all cvt'iits, [ felt i)r('tt\' well satislit-d at the distance which I had so far succccmI.- I In ijlaciiiii- hetweeii m\'- •li sell Mild III} '1 oi'on to I I )me Tl le Journey, as I have said, was louuf and t«'dious, lioweNcr, and only made th ifortahh dati( til tolerahle by tlie comlortahle accommodation with which the C^'inadiaii I'acitic Railway Va). has ho care- fully provided its patrons over this Meak and uninter- esting route. On arrival in Winnipeg- 1 found myself in possession cf no very deiinite i)laii of action for the future, and 1113' means, whicl» I have before mentioned as liaviiio- been s'jinewliat limited at tlie outstart^, I di.scovere \)\'V- »(• I'l'NV out tt) s! l»Ji^ r}icli«'»l Nvliicli .' 1 had a time, istanct' I'll my I liavo y made Ml with HO caro- uniiitcr- )SHcssi()n are, ami ^ havin<;- verod at journey lio- efiect- I did ed me to e at my IcisnjT, Idit tin fold I'Mct. ll<»t^vitllst.•mdiM<^ somi facrd iiir ill all tlic stiTiiiH'Ms sucli lacts aiT cjipal •!<• ( il" assum iii;^^ at tinu'S, and krcii 'ly I rt'LMrttcd it I rmiiid im- iiH'diatf action my <»iily recinir.sc to inert tiir diMiculty and " keep alloat." Xecdlrss to say, sncli a state «)!' aflaiiH HO soon alter my de)»arture was not alt(i;4etliei' comrnrtin<'', altlnai!"!! I allowed it todistuil* my iieace of mind Imt littl« It renuir « 1 Imt a sliort lime, liovv- cver. In I'eali/e the I'act that this peculiarly interest int( state ol* personal tinance lu'ooks no «lelay il' it is t'> l»e h<»nestly overconw, so I accoivlinolv set niy^elj* tin- task and an inteivstini-e(l a oi-cat ])rol*usioii of im[)ortant- lookinii' documents and ]»a]M'i's. and at which sat a. o-.iudilv dressed \-oun<'' man, siuokiiii'' a \ileci<>'ar, and listlessly scanning' the columns of a nuanini;' |ia])er. 1 hriellv explained the ohiect i>\ \\\\ call, and was olTered a seat. Aftei" a few moments |nrliminary cons'ersa- tion, in which the x'ouni'' man cauti(aisl\' endea\'ore<| to .sound me in a iiciieral sort <»f waw and at the same time impress me with his own stu))endous imjxn't- ance in the world of linance thuuiih in w hat directi(jn Lif*' i)i the North- Wrst Mounted Police. 1 1 I I'ailtMl to discern — he pnxluci'd a lart,^*', awr-iiispirinj j-»' it} iiiaiia^^e filary, aii'l V at X< ). '24- nd I i a.m." days stared lie " \V;nit "' nu'd to nu" s Tact' — too aiiv serious ■ ser\i(.*es in (> call at t]ie id all doul)t wet inorn- tlie door (»r undireila ccordeil tlie »rs dry, and )kin<4- room. )!' rurniture, important- wliieli sat a ileci<;'<"0'. and no- ]ia]ter. I 1 was ollvred •\- c'on\»'rsa- endeavored nt tlie same ons im}>ort- hat direction 'ilt-edm.'d t'onii of a Mank l»onut no ! all doul)t was at once dispelled, foi' where I had plac(!d ni}' umhrella on enterino" there now remained nauo'ht hut a few M nig Life hi the Xorth-Wesf Mounted Police. V] ])()litt'ly tliat lie ijiry loss i^hteous ut when t Jit any >, of suc- % un:peet<'d to charac- terize the relations of on(i brother towards another. The watchword under such circumstances I soon dis- covered to be "l.astle," and although this was a source of but little comfort to me in my somewhat awkward predicament, I endeavored to grasp its meaning as best I could, and follow^ the unwritten law prescribed in such exigencies. After looking the ground over again carefully — drift- ing alxMit the while in a peculiar kindof style — I almost unknowingly found myself oneday nund)ered amongst those pests of domestic felicity — a canvassing fiend, in th<' shape of a sewing machine agent. With a grip of circular matter, extolling the general su})eriority of my machines over all others, and with my brain taxed to its utmost with technical terms and infoi'mation re- specting the same, which T hai"ess ui)on her th le innnediate importance of jmrchasnii;', on her own terms, an 'A 1 oscillating', 1 tack action, self-threadino' machine, but I would as often l>e oblioed to sutler tin' humiliation of ha\ ini;' the portal slannned violently in my face Just as I was hopeful of ha\ini;' created a most favorable impi'ession u])on her ladyshiii. Inbolli cases my failure was e(|ually un(|Uestionable, not to say \ce.' iiacliiiie or uivassor in )mmissions ly lloatinj^' My iiKxlc M) str.'ii^'ht lial, a SL'W- so entirely it('itants of which are for the greater part of French origin. Impelled by curiosity an«l the remembrance of Whittier's well-known " Bells of St. Boniface," I sauntered over the bridge, crossing the Red River towards this suburb one evening, when I liad the pleasure of hearing what is claimed to be the identical Bells of St. Boniface to which the great poet referred, peal forth their music from the belfry of the Roman Catholic chapel, sunnnoning the faithful to enter : "The bells of the Roman Mission, That call from their turrets twain To the l)oatman on the river, To the hunter on the plaii ." II. < 'I' MOW being very pbiin to me that tlie City ol* Win nipe<( offered no i'ui'ther inducements for my pre- si'iicf, I was intimt upon pushing- farther west, and ac- eordino'ly shaped my plans in this direction as far as possible. An idea occurred to me at this juncture, to which I had heretofore given some thought, but with no very serious intention of carrying it out. I was ac- (|iiaint('d with a number of young fellows in Toronto and elsewhere, who had come up into the ccnintry, and aftei- remaining awhile had enlisted in the North- West Mounted Police, and while I had little or no informa- tion respecting this corps, and tho individual life led in the ranks, my curiosity was sufficiently aroused to culminate in a determination on my part to empiire into the business with a view of " taking on." Having decided upon this course, I lost no time in setting to work, and making all possiljle encjuiries respecting terms of enlistment, etc., which information I easily obtained, and which had the effect of still further strengthening my inclination in this direction. The prime (pialification, I was infoi'med, was physical fit- ness for the service, and before being furnished with transportation to Regina — the headijuartors of the force — it was necessary to undergo a thorough examina- tion at the hands of the authorized surgeon in Winni- 17 n-t IS l/ift' iti the Norfh-Wcsl Moti nlrtl Puller. ])('^, jiIkI lie ])i'nii()Uncr<| l»y liiiii souii'l. Alter wrigli- iiiii' iiiJittrrs cMi'cruIlN' in thr I>;iI,iii(M', I Hiiullv ])()ssess in so marked ,1 (JcM^i'cr. He was tlM>rl\iii«'' car. l''(»r the lirst time since my dejiaiture I'rom Toronto 1 now e.\))eiienced some little Jiiixietv as tn wliat the iimnow mi^ht ha\'e in store for me. As for ]>oor Dashwood — such l)ein<;- the name I will call the litth^ j'lnnlishman - he little dreamt ol* disappointment in the roseate picture he had made I'oi- himsell* as a mem- her ol" the North-West Mounted Police, hut fate, alas! had decreed it (otherwise, as will he shown hereafter. ^ ntance :hougli M I I I ij III. ol' tlu' police, wlu'iv lu' told us wo held iK-tter rcj ort ouiselvcs as newly arrived ivcniits. This we did, wlieii oui' ai'ri\al was telephoned to tlie hai'i'acks, and a police team .sent down to convey us out. This turned 22 L'ljr ill thf Xnrth-Wtsf i]finnifi'r tlic wa;;';4nii. ami We startrd nil' at a iirisU tint tnwai'tjs tln' harracks. Our driNcr, a )»nlicriuaii. was nt" a iuni«»s»' tfniiMMauH'nt, so that \\v wcit uiiaMr tn .•atluT niufli inrni'iiiatinn IVnui him as to thiM<:s in Mineral, lie had r\ idently •h'ixcn I'l'cruits uinlropei', w hert >ur hm-o-jio'e was thrown out of the waoa'^ii with littK •^^i-.'-i-< )-^>-l cereuiui »y au< I wdiere we ourselves aliiihted. N (.J 2i Lif<' >i> fhi' Xiu-fh- West Mi>unf('iii/iii^" inaimt'i' as to wlictlici* wc were rccriiits. I took upon ni\scir tlic i-«'s|)oiisil'iIity of inronniuL;' liiin tliatsucli was the ease, wllcll lie i-IMltilN' ordered lis to •''et oUr stull' out of th(! ay and await liis ]-etuni. alter wliicli lie iiiarclied oil" hliKjui ry of a juissini;- ))()lic(;- w ill a most stat<'l\' st\'le mail elicited tlie fact tliat lie was the l\ee-imeiital Sere'eaii t-M ijor and one wlio caj'riec a woi 1<1 ol* weiMit aliout the place, so wi' accoi-dinoj v lim'e'ed our stuti" into one ol" the harrack rooms, and in»])atieiitly awaited (he reliirn of this xcry imjiortant die-nitaiy in the new life U|)oii which we, were soon to enter. The men at this time were ail on duty ol" various kinds alii)ut the ])lace, anj»(»r- tunitA' lor a time of snr\'eyiii_e' our surroundines at leisure, jteiidine- the return ol" that aui;ust and already rejmenaiit |)ersona;;"e, the llcei men tal-Sei'^cant- Major. 'I'!ie rooms in the hari'acks we fliscovei'ed to he lari-v an* an'\' ;inout three Teet hroail hy si.\ in lene-tli, on all ol" which were Toldetl Mankets in uniform stvle. i\i the head ol' each cot was a shell", on which the owners name and rank a])))eared on a small ])icce o F cardhoard, ami on wliicli his kit was all carel'ully laid t in sxsteiiiatic folds. In the centre of each room ou w as a hare looking' table on which wei'e two lam])s, and under each tahle were two liu^c wooden rec(,'j)taclcs clumsily posing as aspirants for the pjoud title of I/ifc ill the Xorfh ]Vrsf M(*nvtril I'(.lh'f. 2;") s])itooiis. 'riir llooi's Were, sci'iipulnusi y ('l"';iii, iiii'l in (tiic cornel' \V( IT r,MHi;fi| Imlt' n /cn hnckrts ol" water l.'llielled ■■ l^'ife," ( 'leaiilil at a inlance. Al'tei' waitini;- ai'oniKl I'oi' al><>ut liall' an Imnr, aeconipany liiiii to til Adjutant's otlice. Here our |»a|)ers Wel-e jjioduced in due ronii, caivrulU' serutini/ed, and I'vKmI a\\a\' 'V\ le Adjutant an old Hiitisli soldier receiNcd us in a wvy atl'altlc manner, l»ut the Tormalities ol" oreetin<;' heino' soon set aside, he at once hee-an (|Uestioniiiji;" lis in the ])lainest possihle terms, as to where we had come from, our ronnei; occu])ation. and numerous other little matters personal to ourselves, wliicl I we succeec le.l III aiiswerini;' to his a])[)ai"eiit satisl'action. He then led ns asido and tracc(l out on a ma]) for our inlormation and enliehtenment the lines ol' tlie police ])atrols in the Territories, at the same time reoaline' us in an ofl- liand manner, with a little lecture on the duties ol' ]iolie('men in ecneral ; the importance in particular ol' implicit ohedieiice at all times, and la\-ini>' careful em- phasis upon the dire and certain conset|Ueiices result iiiL;' from any otlu'rlineol'coiHluct. When liidiad linished his discourse we were handed oxer to the ten\ri' to Ills own (|Uart('rs, Mini j»icsfiit('(| lis cicli witli (wo paii'sot' lilankcts, wlim lie instructed liis ordci-ly to take us over and assion us rooms ill tlic barracks. This done, wc were diiu'ctcd wlici-c wc iiii^lit ])i-oL-ur(3 a ])aii- ol* tiH'stlcs and tlircc lioards — Mliicli constitute tlic rco-ulation police cot — and to lie on liand sliaj'])ly at three ]).ni. that afternoon I'oi' our liiial nie(lical examination at tlie lios])itak It heino' now ahout twelve o'clock, the men were trooi)iim' into their rooms oti' dut\', and to sav that they were a loud and hilarious lot after their morn- inn's restiaint expresses it hut mildly. Pipes — those i^'reat consolers in all humors and at all times of the nieht and (lay — wei"e immetliately drawn out and tilled, and when once under way, the «;enei'al talk waxei-()e(MMl(Ml to set ii]) my cot in a cornel', I'o- tlectino- the wliile on tlie ci'udeness nl' its conijioneiit jvai'ts as cnni[)are doors wei'e finally thrown o])en hy the cook, which was the signal foi- a mad rush throuoh to the othei- side of the room. Here was atahle, on which rested a ^-reat pile of plates, and on one side a rou^'h counter, hehind which ahi-awny indiviht Imt to follow the example set me in tlie matter, I manaoed to procuie a ])hite al'ter several ineflectual etibrts, and, hold ino- it forth as the others, receivey tlx' aid of a rather keen appe- tite, I ifally iiianaiicd laiily well, i I'elt o-reatly relieved when the (MTciiiony was over, however, for in a man- ner 1 trlt e<)nsilr I'estraint at tliis mv lirst meal amoiiii'^t m\' new and as vet untrie, and all seenuMl pei'fectly ha])])y. l*\)ur ])er cent, beer, I mie-ht here mention, is a mysterious mixture peculiar to the North- West, and jiarticularly dear to all Xorth-West ]\bjun- ted ]^)licemen. It is a concoction jiropounded by some inovnious indivi iiir Si,,ih ivv.s/ MoHvfni rni; cr I |)Urpos('s its cflrcts ni'r \.'i() p.in. llic (•.•iiitccn was (•l()st'(l, wlicii all liainls I't'turncd tn tlcir i-ooms in tlir iiari'acks, and at 10 o'clock roll was callrj l.y the oritate(I me at leni^th u[>on the llooi', to the ^reat anuisement ol' thosi^ ;ilff)ut me. I fathered myself too'ethei" in short order, howt.'vei", and finally succeeded in gettino" the 1)0(1 placed in a, reasouahly safe position, when I once more laid me down to court that sleep wherein my trouhles mi<;ht for a space he rorji'otten. And thus was ushered in my iii'st ui^'ht of harrack life as a Noith-West Mounted Policeman. I\ ' I.-iwokc in tlu' moi'iiino still' and soiv, ;it tlic souikI oI tlir l>uo'l(' i»l()\viiio- " rcNcillc "' iji tlic Ii;ii rack stjiiai-c ill a innimt'i' cak-ulatt'il to ])cih'1 rate the c-irs ol" the most (Irowsv. Twciitv iiiiiuitcs were aHowctl in w hick t/ t to ait of all epicurean tendencies that ealle(l foi; no mean etKort Ix-fore it lieeaiiie with nie, as with the older hands, a mess tit f(»r the L;()ds. At ten o'clock, l);isliwoo(l, the ex-Life ( lUai-d.siiutn jind myself were taken to the ordei'ly room, and witli considerahle ceicmony were sworn in as mendters of the North-West Mounted I'oliee, after which we wei'e taken to the (^)u;u'termastei-\s stoi'e, whei'e we wei'e issued with oni' kit, consistini:' of ridinj"' l»i-eeches, hoots, sei'o-(> tunic, helmet, fora^'e caj), stahle clothes, socks, under H.-unu-l, and nuineions otiu'r little ai'ticles of weai'in^' a])})arel, as well as a razor, carhine, cart- ridoc-hi'lt, rcNoKcr and ammuintioJi. ( )n the wdiole it was a most complete and superioi' kit. That e\'en- ini^- in the mess loom our names were read out in general ordei's, with i-e^imental nundters attached, as havini;- heen only taken on the stien<^th of the force, and |)Osteil to "Depot" Division, and for the follow- ine- day's detail Dashwood and myself, alone- with an- othei" man, were read out for dutv as " Mess Fatirnu'." Well, I was now a full iledevd policeman, with power to arrest, make seizures, shoot, and even kill if needs he ! Idie thoueht 1 confess was a little hc- wilderine-. M E a polici'Uian I Who coidd have fore- tohl such a ]»ass { Not I to he sure. Sui'ely. T thoue-lit, it nnist be but some strange' hallucination, the result of a .S4 I.ife in flit' X(n III- West Muiuilnl I'olkc. a (lis(»rtl«'r('(l ami in«)rl)i(l iiiia^iiiatinii .»r jx rliajis the ]»lmii tluir <»r tilt' jircvious day. I>ut il" imt a jxilicc- iiiaii wliat tlicii '. AikI so tlic reality <>l' iiiv )tnce in my position. I was then hluntly oivlcred to the mess room, where I I'ound mv IViend Dashwood r,rr. :\'y cirty in (In- wi»i-|(|. ( ';iii\as p.-nit-^ clif.iit .iikI ill-lilt iiiL;' at tliut — a Jacket with lirass lnitttnis. aiitl a l*»>iT-aii(l- ul'tcr ca]) of tlu' same r()n<4'li uiatrrial, wliilc no t t'jitirclv siiitaltir To)- tlir occasion, clothes for the first time, as direpare the tables for breakfast, distrihutiiiL:' the knives and forks, re[)leiiishinj;' salt and pepper boxes, cuttin;^' bread, and. aside from the actual cooking' itself, eet e\ frythiiii^' in readiness for breakfast. This was no liu'lit task for two such "•reeiihorns as Dashwood and m\-self, but b\- the time the l.)Ugle soiuide<| "breakfast ' we had suc- il !ii ill :m Li/)', III thr. Xorth \V(sf MonuftJ Po/'uc. "-4 (Tt'drd ill <,'rttiii^' rvcrytliinf^' into )»i'n|M'r ^linpr. Dur- iiijL,' lnT.'ikrnst coiitiMiiMl aii*! riaiitic cries tnr nmrc lnH'ud l\r|)t iislnisv slii'iiio- loavrsiiituw lioh'sniin' cliuiiUs, until tlic iMTsjiirMtictn lollrd in l.iri;-*' i Imps down onr I'ufcs. in our ciKlcavors to kcrji upuitli tlir coiistunt and rNcr-incrcasiiii;- demand in this diieetion. I"'inally, and willi a sio'li of reliel', we watched the uieinliei'.s ;^n*adually thininii;;, until the last- man had left the nu-ss room, and the meal was at last- declared over. And now heo-aii our work in earnest. ( )ne hundred and se\('ntydi\'e huiiH-ry w oK cs had i^ivased and made liltliy one hundred and se\ enly-li\ c plates and as many kni\es, lorks and cu)»s, to say nothiii;;' of the tallies and henches, which were in e(|nall\- as diity and ;,n'easy a, condition, and when we were calmly in- I'orined that our nc.xt work was to wash and thoi'oueldy dry each greasy pla,te, kniTe, Tors and cup, as well as tli(>ron;;hly scrul. the floor, henches and tahles, it can l»c readily understood when T say that we felt noiw too elated over the prospect. Dashwood was in I'act a little chop-l'allen over the matter, for he liad liardly anticii)ated unytliin^r of this nature, altlioiijiili I my- self was not taken alto^^ether l»y surprise. We were pensively surveying- the havoc created at )>reakfast, and the filthy condition of thin«rs generally which Ave were to remedy hefoi'e the next meal, when the liusky voice of our IViend the Sero-eant-Maior who had poked his head into the mess i-oom on liis daily moi'uinn- rouiwls, thunderecl in upon us in well- rounded teinis, as he shouted : " Now tli<"n. m' lads, to Life in the North- West Movnted Police. 37 work, nn<\ don't stami tlun' Jis tlum^h yon didn't know what you had to do. " Dashwood otrcrtMl some ])arl<'y at tliis, i'or it wan ]>lain to src hv had not Ixjen accuHtoincil to any dictation lieretot'orc n'spcctin^ what \ui .should and what hr shouhl not (h), hut hu wjis ('ff(;ctually s(|U('lclie to me as the lot of mounted })olicemen, but I was a little loath as yet to form conclusions. 1' I W ofr, V. ire up tlie following morning at the sound •eveille, when with the others I marched to the stables with brush and comb, where, after help- ing in the general cl«?an-out, I was assigned a horse to water, feed avi J groom. I knew little or nothing of horses in general at this time, my knowledge of the noble animal having been principally gained by obser- vation on the fiont platform of a bob-tailed street car. I had, of course, occasionally driven a horse, but beyond that, I had had little or nothing to do with them whatever. But now, however, I was to undergo the interesting operation of learning by experience and close contact something of their management, both in the stall and out. I was euriousl}' eyed by an officer as I began groom- ing my horse in the way I considered most proper from my scant knowledge, blowing and puffing the while after the fashion of the proverbial groom, in order to dispel any doubts that might exist as to my extensive experience in this business, but in a few moments I was thoroughly convinced by that gentleman that what I didn't know about properly grooming a horse was sufficient to class me amongst the most verdant of individuals in this respect. I worried through the stable hour, peculiarly conscious of my ignorance as to the proper care of horseflesh after the few hints I had 41 M i ' '\ ^ 42 Life in the North- West Mounted Police. now received, and felt not a little relieved when the business was over, and my first attendance at stables in the police was a thing of the past. Stables were attended at Regina three times daily, when the same process was gone through each time, so that I became after a while capable of grooming a horse iii the regulation fashion, and with more satis- factory results than had at first rewarded my efforts in tliis direction. Being a recruit in a very proper ae^?^e of the term as regards drilling, I was of course assigned to a scjuad composed of men whose knowledge in this direction was about on a par with my own. There were about twelve or fifteen of us all told, and we were each day drilled for an hour on foot and another hour on horse- back, and, as might be expected, were a source of con- siderable amusement not only to the older hands who happened at times to watch our crude endeavors, but to ourselves as well, in noting the ludicrous figure often cut by one of our number. More especially was this the case in mounted drill, when various peculiarities were exposed in our attempts at unifor- mity of movement which were highly amusing at times. In mounted drill we were first paraded in the rid- ing school, to where each man led his horse after first bridling and saddling him in the stables. This school was a large and spacious building, on the floor of which was strewn hay to the depth of about six inches, as a safeguard against accidents, in the shape of . Life in the North-West Mounted Police. 43 tumbles and tosses. Our saddles were of the univer- sal pattern, without stirrups, and the horses with which we were provided were of the broncho-breed, — a combination which inspired no great degree of con- fidence in those of us whose equestrian propensities had heretofore lain dormant, only to be aroused now in the rude manner which is here adopted in impart- ing a knowledge of this peculiar accomplishment. Our Drill Sergeant was a magnificent rider himself, but individually we received but little attention at his hands, as he stood in the centre of the riding school with a long-reaching circus whip, which he would en- ergetically snap at the heels of any horse inclined to lag in our trots about the school. After all had mount- ed in the fashion he would first illustrate by springing upon the back of his own horse in two precise move- ments, we were for sometime walked quietly about the school prior to receiving an order to trot, and in the meantime were instructed as to the manner of properly holding ourselves in the saddle, and various other matters respecting horsemanship generally were explained at length for our enlightenment. I felt my- self tolerably secure at first, as we walked our horses quietly about, but as all things must have their begin- ning, our turn came at length, and our Sergeant in a stentorian voice, gave out the command to " Trot," at which each horse, apparently quite familiar wdth its significance, broke into a brisk trot. Without stirrups, and never having ridden before, the ignorant confidence I had conunenced to feel in I I 44 Life in the North- West Mounted Police. my ability to retain my seat was now most severely shaken, as I was tossed first to one side and then to the other. As is invariably the case, I instinctively twined my legs about the horse's belly with all the energy I could command, in my frantic efforts to keep my seat, but this only tended to increase the briskness ol* his f^ait, and make my position every moment more insecure. The riding-master generally took the lead in these treats, and set the pace, which he would un- ieeliKiilv continue in its briskness until the strain under which we were all laboring would finally result in first one and then another nulling off on our backs with a dull thud upon the soft floor. I was one of the first to go down in this way, and even poor Dash wood, despite his vaunted experience as a horseman, found the " stripped saddles " little to his liking, being obliged to abandon his jockey style and adhere strictly to instructions for riding as a policeman, allowing the horse to pitch him fairly, and finding his balance as best he could. For a novice this method is no easy task, nnd there were but one or two who did not find the soft floor of the riding school infinitely preferable to the continual pounding which this style of riding involves, and it required a number of lessons before I began to feel the slightes*: confidence in myself to keep fairly astride my horse. Our rides were each day more severe and exacting as to our general bearing in the saddle, and the carry- ing out in detail of all instructions given us. For nearly four weeks we were daily put through this i t I I Life in the North- West Mounted Police. 45 mounted drill on " stripped saddles," and at the end of this time it was considered that most of us had suc- ceeded in ac(|uinnj^ something of a "seat. " We all had our tumbles and tosses on ground that wns soft and otherwise, but none of us han, however, was always the signal for more odium and heartfelt curses being heaped upon things in general than any spiritual good that was ever derive Life in the North-West Mounted Police. 51 ^•oin^ out of liis way, if uocoHsjiry, to ilciiouiicc tlu'iii will; 'ill liis licart and soul. Ksju'cially is tln' lattcj* a j»olic'('n»airs " hctc noir." A (lay ^uard niouutcd at 2 ]).ui., anut the " fine fund " was a sink-hole, surrounded hv an ini- penetraV)lc halo of mystery which it was the privilege of only tlK)s<^ hironcho, but what I had the pleasure of seeing while at Regina, when a brood of thirty l^ronchos were for the first time broken to the saddle, is something which so immeasurably surpasses anything I had ever seen Vjefore in this respect that the spectacle almost beggars my description, I will enear any conq)arison with the ;;'en nine and voluntary bucking of a yet unbroken hroncho. And now a word respectin<( the halt-breed who liad cliarj^e of this work. Louis was a man of middle aj^e, of powerful though not commanding physiijue, and gifted with the cunning of a fox. Horn and brought up on the prairies, ho was certainly one of the most useful ae held up by a former " pal," and one who had been the " slickest " man, as he termed him, in his line of Imsiness in the country, was almost more than he could stand, and while he took the sentence very much as a matter of course the thoui^ht that Cobell had anything to do with his arrest was a bittt-r pill for " Slim Jim " to swallow, and his faith in human nature became very much shattered in conse({Uence. ^^- IX. .: HE canteen was a distinct feature of barrack life at Recrina. Here was afforded a liarrnless safety valve each night for the pent-up grievances and complaints accumulated during the course of the day, and it was a poor policeman indeed who had not at his connnand a bundle of the most stirring wrongs to expatiate upon whenever opportunity was ottered for so doing. If a man had some startling disclosure to lay bare, or some particularl}^ important information to impart, it was always reserved until such time as he could gather his clique of friends about him in the can- teen, wdien, with pipes lighted, and " schooners " of four per cent, beer flowing galore, he would unburden his soul of whatever tales of woe he might have to communicate to those about him. And there were be- sides otiiers whose time was entirely given up to the unsavoury amusement of dice-shaking for the drinks, and whose capacity for imbibing " four per cent. " seemed inflnite. Of the latter class I remember well an Irishman named Casey, a short, thick-set man, with a perfect brogue, who laughed and talked louder, shook dice more persistently, and drank more " four per cent." than any other three or four men put together. Casey's voice — a husky bass — could be heard at regular intervals of about ten minutes above the din and roar of his surroundings, calling frantically for a 67 -1 C8 JAfe in the North- West Mounted Police. fresh .supply of beer. When he had succeeded in get- ting away with eight or ten large-sized glasses, or " schooners," he was a perfect picture of that species oi wild, untameable Irishmen, to whom fighting comes with as much grace as either sleei)ing or eating. At such times Casey was ready and anxious to tight everybody and anything that crossed his path, but fortunately he was generally taken in hand by somci of liis more intimate friends before his aching desire in this direction bore fruit, and led away to his room> to di'eam of the concpiests he had failed to achieve in tlie arena of fisticuffs, and by means of (piiet repose gather strength and energy for his appearance the following night. A man wdio was ever known to sing a song, or against whom there lurked a latent suspicion that he might under any circumstances be capable of singing one, seldom escaped making his debut in this respect if he ever patronized the canteen to any extent. It mat- tered little what the song was, or in what language it was rendered, so long as it was an effort in the right direction. I remember very distinctly one evening when two newly-arrived recruits — one a short, merry- eyed little Frenchman, who had come all the way from Quebec to join " Le Police MonturHe with us, but we finally prevailed upon liim, uSivv \wq\\ earnest persuasion, to say nothing about it, and allow us to board a freight train then passing through, and get off* in this manner. Had I desired an opportunity of seeing the country along the line of railway for two or three hundred miles west of Regina, I doubt if I could have succeeded better than from the caboose of this freight train, which travelled at the rate of but 10 or 12 miles an. hour the whole distance. The country loses its flat- ness a few miles west of Regina, and becomes gently undulating, and at this period of the year — towards the first of June — presented a most striking and beau- tiful appearance. Maple Creek station was reached at about thi-ee o'clock the following morning, when we w^ere directed by the station agent to one of the hotels in the place where we might pass the remainder of the night. Ar- riving at the house, however, we found the occupants all evidently sound asleep, although doors and windows were unbolted and wnde open. Nothing loath, we marched in, in search of what hospitality the place might •■ Life in the North- West Mounted Police. 75 ott'ur, but despite uur eiibrts tu arouse Sijiiiebody by tramping about the bare Hoors of tlie hotel in our heavy top-boots, we were unsuccessful, and were left alto- <^ether to our own resources in providing;' for our com- fort, which we inniH'diately proceeded to look after in the best way we knew how. Perceiving a dim liolit in one of the rooms at the far end of the house, we made for it, and found ourselves in the kitchen where pie makiufj on an extensive scale had evidently been carried on the day before ; the table anr those iKJiriltle day <,niards, Sunday eliurch ])ar- iides and all that tlu'y entailed, were practised here. Discipline ^^enerally 1 found was not niaintaineil at such a hi«(h concert pitch, and the relaxation was in- deed a boon, although duty there was of various kinds and in aiaindance for each and every day of the week, not ev<.>n exceptint^^ Sunday's. A ^'uard house formed i)art of the establislunent liere as at Re»-ina, in which were o-enerally one or two outside indivi(hials uncU'rooiuu- a srntence of a month oi' two, hut a prisoner's escort was considered sutli- cient for all pur))oses here without the appenda<^e of a re<>'imental day n^uard. I was detailed for duty as prisoner's escort on dif- ferent occasions, but remend)er one day particularly when ap})ointed escort over a p(jor unfortunate Russian lunatic, who had Ijeen picked up on the prairies a few days previously by one of the patrols, and V»rouf(ht into head-(juarters, w. re he remained, pendin<^ his re- moval to the in.sane as^ lum at Wiiniipe;^. He spoke a little broken English n\ ith *;Teat tUfficulty, and made use of it almost incessantly to harp upon some strange tale of jilted atfiections, in which he and some un- known and terrible woman were concerned. He was 79 80 Jjife in the North- Went Mounted Police. in a iiioHt (IcploraMe ptatc {ijonerally, and hoing in a roniew hat filthy condition bodily, I received instruc- tions from the surgeon to bring him over to the hospi- tal, turn the hose upon him, and have some medicine administered. This I did, but it was a most difficult operation, and it required the greatest amount of per- suasion to induce him in either case that we were not seeking his life in cold blood. On perceiving our object as to making him thoroughly wash himself, he pitifully begged us to shoot him at once, or even cut his throat, if we pi*eferred to accomplish our object with less noise, " but, oh ! meister," he pleaded, " do not throw cold water on me." The poor fellow and cold water had apparently long since taken leave of one another, and the thought of now parting with the filth he had since that time managed to accumulate about his ragged person was an overwhelming source of agony to him. Besides the one or two outsiders, or, as they were contemptuously dubbed, " civilians," generally con- fined in this guard house, an odd policeman or two were generally suffering the consequence of some little indiscretion in the shape of a mcmth's confinement with hard laV>or. In fact the usefulness of these police guard houses throughout the territories would seem to be very much lessened were the poor policemen them- selves not being continually made do penance therein for some trival lapse in discipline. An occasional red nan was also picked up about the prairies, suffering from an excessive use of the much loved " fire water," -t r Life in tite North- West Mounted Police. 81 and made do penance in these guard houses by the aid of a monstrous pair of iron shackles about his ankles. I was never <|uite al)le to understand the necessity for this precaution, however, for the slightest display of any spirit or force in any direction whatever is almost entirely unknown among these Indians at the present day. The spirit of their ancestors has long since de- parted, and the civilization with which they have come in contact in late years has augumented their worth- lessness to an extent that now makes " the best Indian a dead one." After doing " straight duty " at Maple Creek for nearly four weeks, I was one day unexpectedly asked to relieve the clerk then on duty in the orderly room, who was going away for a few days on leave, and while here was asked if I would care to remain, my ser- vices up to this time having apparently given satisfact- ion to those in authority. Needless to say I readily ac- cepted this oft'er of work so much more to my liking than the outside labor at which I had heretofore been employed, and was forthwith dubbed a " pen wiper." There were two of us in the office, and the duties were about equally divided between us The work as- signed me consisted of making up the official reports of the division, weekly and monthly, entering up of the official diary, looking after the correspondence and general orders, besides numerous other little details of office routine and senseless red tape, peculiar to nearly all government departments, and to which the N.W.M.P. is no exception. Our office hours were from nine a.m. 82 Life in the North- West Mounted Police. until i'oiir in tlio afternoon, so that it will be seen we were hy no means overwhelmed with work. Attending- stables twice a day an«l tlie care of the horses was a duty which none esr-apec], foi- without hein^ in continual touch with hoi-se-Hesh, if only to ^room and feed them each of the horses which is often all he has to remind him of what he really is in his loneliness out on these prairies for month after month, and in many cases year after year, in the same spot, when only the si^ht of an oc- casional train is all there is to remind him that cities and civilization are still extant, and that ev^n prairies have their limit. I believe the hei^'ht of monotony, unless one is thorou^ddy and systematically employed, is the life led upon tlie prairies, and cases where men and women have ii^one completely out of their minds from the awful monotony of their surround inuck and liis sqiuiw ^('lu'rally travelltMl toj^'ethci" oil such cxptMlitions, Imt it was tlic S(|iia\v who scontLMl al»<)ut lor ^hc Itoiii^'s, wliih,' ht-r iH)l>ltj lord would sit .'ahMly watching her at work, with his I'eet danglino- over the front ol" Ills cart, never once deign- ing to move a muscle or render the slightest assistance whatevei". When they had tilled their cart with as many hones as it was capable ol" carrying, the buck would seat liiniseH' on the top of the load, while his s(jua\v would trudge wearily along behind on foot. And so it is in all their domestic and other relations, the buck forever lookiup' on while his down-ridden Hpouse performs the labor, and with what dignified and supreme contentment they can till this otHce, it was indeed awe-inspii-ing to behold. An Indian court was of frecpient occurrence in the })olice orderly room at Maple Creek. The grievances which were then aired thi-oujih the nuMlium of an in- terpreter were generally in connection with some horse transaction, or rather their small ponies, without which an Indian can never be I'egarded as having I'eaclied a state of prosperity or success in tliis life. And what ponies tliey were 1 Their lieight seldom exceeded 18 liands, and to any but an Indian their value wouM rank simply with old and air, thick as rank prairie grass, dangling about her shouldei's, with small liawk-Iike eyes, a daub of red paint on each cheek, and the append^ige of a tiiUiy blanket hanging about hei* decrepid p v'son, bearing the pretty and sweet-sounding name of " Twinkling Star," " Dewy Morn," or " But- terHy I " Their taste in this ilirection, though highly commendable, could hardly have been considered in all cases as very aptly applied. Their cases generally consisted of some trade in ponies, in which part con- sideration, generally a blanket, was withheld by the \' I II Life in the North- West Mountefi Police. (S7 purcli}i.st'r,wl»<).sf action, lor sonic sti'un^^r I'cason, would be stoutly maintainc*! hy his cli(|U(^ of friends, while the other would hi-ino; his friends together foi* the ]nir- pose of exposiiifv tlie fraud. The pony in the meantime would often have chan have an unfortunate habit of clinging to this life with a teuiicity that is not easily' overcome by the more ordinary atHictionp. of humanity. I XII. BAllHACK life Jit Maplo rn^k was occasionally enlivciHMJ liy some little eiitertaiiuiient which the iiicij would ^(v \\\), when the inhahitants ol' the town and surrounding country would he invited ad lilrUum to iiiii'Mi] and share in the festivities. One laeniorahle entei'tainnient was ^iven while I was sta- tioned hei'e in the shai)e of a f^i-and picnic and hall. Kach policeman out of his scanty jmy had subscribed about iivo dollai's towai'ds the expenses of the occasion, and did all in liis power to make it a jj^rand success. A couple of men with horses were led those of tlie proverbial ])icnic ;^rounds not a little. Two swings had been erected, a few rnde seats constructed, and ev(!ry possil)le ])rt'])ar- ation made to render the picnic a j^rand success. Thirty or forty souls were soon nssendthid on the o-rounds, and ' every effort was at once mach; to entertain thi; invited f^uests in that pro})itious style which only Mounted Policemen are capabh^ of assuming when thus thnjwn in contact with the fair sex. The swings were the principal sourc«' of amusement, and they ven? used right viooi'ously, eacli man strug- ^ding for a cliance to swing his young lady next, and jiist a "tririe" higliei- timn the one )iefor<' liim, until the buxom prairie belles were often in imminent peril of being swung completely over the top cross-beam by their ardent and excited escorts. This annisement was carried on with varied success for more than an hour, without any serious mishap of any kind, but, to tell the truth, we were all anxious fo)- the time when we might parade our guests befoit^ the " grub pile " which had been provided for the occasion, and thus show the unbounded hos|)itality of our ideas in this direction. We liad spared no pains in this respect 1^ 1^ 90 Life in the North- West Mounted Police. and for ourselves us well as tlie ladies, we were anxious tliatojM'rations should coiiniicuce witliout any unneces- sary delay. And this desire on the part oF policemen lon^' fed on (Jovernrnent rations, and wliose tastes for such delicacies as mince pies thiived oidy on the ha})py ivnienihrance of the distant past, was the most natural thing in the world under the circum.-.tances, and alto- g(;ther (piite ])ardonal>le. But while we were seriously contemplating' an onslaught in this direction,a most dire calanntv hefell our tfatherinjx, and < ur fun became liter- ally swamj)ed in a most uiK'xpected manner. In the midst of oui" jollification we liad failed to notice the ominous apptai'ance of the clouds overhead, which had become suddenly dark and lowering, and occasional drops of a most [)rodigious si/e, such as are only seen in the west, now began falling in a manner which foretold a deluge of a most uncomfortable nature for any on whom it might fall. This fact was soon realized by the ladies present, and every conveyance whicli had 1 »een used to bring them to the grounds was now hurriedly avail- ed of by the dauisels and their escorts and driven ott' at bi'eak-neck speed towards the barracks. About a dozen of us yet remained on the grounds, however, and our prospects for reaching the baiTacks in time to es- cape the storm were exceedingly slim. The trees afibrded but little slielter, and the problem of how best to save the grub pile was a matter which gave us the greatest amount of concern and uneasiness. The clouds soon opcaied out, and a downpoiu' immediately followed which would have done credit to an Australian drouth of long standing. sN' I ! i. ! lAfe in the North- Wed Mounted Police. 91 1 J. A siinultfiiu'oiis holt was now inado hy all remaining hands tor the ^ruh, and the onslaut^ht which followed on nnncc pies and th«^ other drhcacies )»rovider us had niaid'ully stood oin* ^'round, and conscious tliat we nii^dit never enjoy atiother pic-in'c, saved what we C(add of the wreck hefore it hecanie completely watei'lojfij^^ed. We were hlle(land satisfied, and walked away aniile of tlie country lying to the south oF Maple Creek, as tar as Montana. These tri])s involveefore police ])rotection — when six-shooters were the only means of persuasioti, and who still letain this sjiirit to an extent that makes them even now " had men ' with whom to deal, exceptino- in a very cautious maimer. The c« 100 Life in the Korfh-WcM Mtmnted Pal Ice. iv-l)ninne they are attain turned loose to wan- der at their own sweet will over the prairies, and feed upon ^rass where they can find it thickest anrietly outline one or two of those characters of which Maple C'reek boasted, and who, to a certain extent, imparted a distinct color or shade to the sphere of life in which fickle fortune had located them : — " Paunchy," the Baker, the Patriarch of the Division, wjis a certain policeman with ten years of .service in the force at his back. He had been born in a baker's shop, had baked pretty n»uch all over this continent, and had tinall}' baked himself: as it were, into the ranks of the police. He was a man on the wronj^j sin, the lop, and ;s ol' ifty, por- de- into He had remained sin;,de all his life: his simple nature never liavin^ risked incun'in^^Mlic responsihility ineum- hent upon a state of matrimony, although it was hinted at times that " I'aunehv " in a monijd'ullv nuiet hut very etiective way was heeomin<^' unusually attentive to theconunandin;,M)tlieer's cook, .lust what his intentums or desi^fus were in this direction, liowever, no one could (piite decipher. Paunchy had lived too lonx IwkI sonic vrarH since Irl't tlw marks ol' its ruva;;.' .Nrd was tlir commandni;;" oMrmts tcanisl* r, and wliat lie didn t know altoiit lumdlin;^ tlw I'iljlions and kcrjj- in^' Ills liorsi's in tip top conjlition, as well as Ins liar- ncHs and vdiiclcs as l»ri;;lit as a new dollar, tlicic was no man livin;;; conld teach Inni. Svi\ never liad mncli to say aliout it, liowevei', hut he knew liis l)iisiness per- t'cetly just the same. 'I'he " Old man," as he termeil tlu' connnandinn- otlicci', liked Ned, and Xe<| liked the connnandin^ oHieer, and his existence in conseipience was oi' rather a smooth and uninitiled natui-e. He occasionally soiinlit solace in a hottle ol' whiskey, when it transpired that X(m1 was a tighter of no mean merit, hut the best ol' men will do that at times. I never looked at " Fatty," the commanding- otlicer's liatman, hut a sndle f(ot the better of me. In aj)pear- ance, he was to my mind an excellent counterpart of Dickens' t'at boy in Pickwick Pa})eis. What " Katty'' didn't know about shining apairol' to}) boots, bui'nish- in^s])urs, or packin^r the C O.'s kit, like Ned, no one could teach him. " Fatty's" boyish face rather belit'd hin», however, for inyeai's he was on the wrono- side of :U), and the proverbial equanimity of fat contentment with which such faces as his are invariably suffused became clouf per- fect and apparently unrutl'able good humor. '• Fatty "» weighed 2'20 pounds stripped. I Lifr h, thr Xorfh-W^'st Mounte^J Pol ice. .03 OIU' U'llt 1S»'(1 imd in OS all ty " l'u\in;|('rat Map!*' ('r»'rk. Sti-ani,'!' UH it inav seem Ikp oiir luaiiiiir a iiaiiic u liicli iiivari- al>lv iinlicatrs IlilM-iniaii rxtractioii. I'aiMv was a Krciiclnnaii, aiiantani rooster. To watcli liini ■ walUin;^" across tlic l)arracl\ S(|Uare was to woiidei- how so niuch sell' ini])()rtance could l)e contained in so small a compass. Hut " Vaddv s " conceit was not alto'^ether empty. Small as he was in statur*', it was a mistake to .suppose — a«,'ain likening' liim to a hantam rooster— that lie was afraid to tackle anvthinii" IVom his own s'v/.v to a I'ull-erown turkey cock. " I'addy " had heen known to whip some )>retty hi^- men, too, and to this fact he took tVe(|Uent occasion to I'ei'ei', in his own peculiar style, and with undiso-uiscd i*e«'linos, of the greatest sat- isfaction, which went to swell " I'addy's" pi'ide not a little. In presenting- the fore^oin^' outline ol a hiicf indi- vidual experience in the I'anks of the Noith-WCst Mounted Police, it is impossible to con\ey anytliin<»- like a correct or ade(puite idea as to the ^cDeral chai*- acter of the force itself and the nature of the work it performs, any ]>urc'lias(\ and l>id t'aivNveli to a Imsincss which pos- sessi'd but few attractions I'oi' nic, and one whicli I liked l)ut little. I had made the ac(Hiaintanct>. duvin^- the six months, oi' manv o'ood fellows with \\ hom it was not pleasant to ])art, and whom it will always he a pleasiM'e to remembei". 'Vhv sujHM'intendent of " A " Division, in whose oHice I worked foi* about three months, was a thorou<»h o-entleman in his treatment of the nu'n, which was at all times manly, consi(h>rate and impartial. A number of the otficers with whom I canu^ in contact here and elsewhere, however, were men of an indifferent stamp, whose (pialities in the outside world would commend them but little in any respect- able society. More esiiecially amontr the non-commis- sioned otHcers, was this the case. "Put a beiXffiir on horse-back." etc., is a proverb which mi^'ht very aptly have been ap]>lied to a i^reat many of them. But by far the finest characters of all were to be found in the ranks amono- the men, and this it is that luis o-ivon the North- West Mounted Police a name and reputation as containino- a class of men considerably abose the averao-e, which the i<;'norant snobbishness of many of its officers does nothing to auoinent. 100 Winnipeg Again. 107 I My Itrirl' cx])* ricncj' as aTncinlH'i'of (';mae. as I enlisted, having harely enoiiL(li iiion 'y with which to ])ay my Tare to \Vinnii)e<(, towards where I now turned my t'ac(\ It was my intention after arri\inn; then- to [)roceed south and cross the border into Hncle Sam's domains, Imt how M'cll 1 succeeded in this will ])e shown anon. I reached Winnipeg* in tlue course, and after niinain- iii<.^ here a couple of days, 1 found myself, as mi«4ht have l)cen antici])ated, stranded hio;h and i\vy. After my former e.\])erieiice in this city, the future now took on an ominous appearance, wdiich made me not a little anxious respectin«^ my immediate pros[)ects and well- fare. Employ iiient I soon discoveres a little lon<(er. In my eai(erness to o-et some- thino- to -ed by him at the rate of one dollar and a half [)er day, and that I mia, in the neio^hhorhood of Mori'is. Availing;* myself of tiie sliohtest chance which presented itself, I innniMliately asked him if he thought I could g-et anythinfi^ to do in that i)art of the country, at the same time ex))laining my readiness to do almost anythinr,^ which otl'eri'd a reasonal)le return. To my surprise he informed me that a neighbor of his, a farmer living alxnit eight miles out of Morris, had told him to try and procure a man for him while in Winnii)eg, and asked me if I had ever done any work on a farm. 1 w.as certainly not on the lookout for anything exactly of this nature, but 1 was now strongly tempted to inform him that as a matter of fact 1 had been bi'ought up on a farm, and risk all after conseijuences of so doing. Upon a little rejec- tion, however, I deemed it prudent to be more frank with him and avoid any possible future complications which such a statement might entail, and informed him that my education in this direction had been somewhat neglected, but being healthy and able- bodied I expressed every confidence that I might answer his purpose perfectly if he cared to engage my 114 k. Fai'ining In Southern Afanitohd. 115 ? RorvicoH on brliali' of his rriciul. Wliilo not jvutliori/cfl to Jirninj^'o terms in tl»is respect, we tinully reaclieil an un^lel•stan(lin^^ an«l he a^^ivod to take nie l>ack with liiin tlie t'ollowin*^ day if I cared to ^'et work, was " «lra house at the same time, lighted the lantern, and after getting into my clothes descended the ladder into the kitchen, where I found my employer already up and dressed and awaiting my arrival. He lost no time in leading the way out to his stable, where he had some cicfht or ten head of cattle and a voke of oxen. Handing me a pitchfork he indicated wliat was w^anted, and in a few moments I was busily engaged in cleaning the place out. This done, the cattle were all watered and fed, after, wdiich he moodily led the way to a wood pile, where on an unmistakable hint as to what was required, I proceeded to operate for about half an hour. At six o'clock we adjourned to the house, where we found the little woman, his aunt, at work busily slicing potatoes for the frying pan, and getting things generally in readiness for breakfast, wdiich, for my part, I now considered well earned. We were soon seated at a small table, before a huge plate of porridge and potatoes each, which, together w^ith a loaf of dry bread, constituted our humble repast. Breakfast over, we again betook ourselves to the Farming In Southern Manitoba. 119 were a loaf )0 the stable, when my boss asked iiie if ♦! now considered myself sutliciently fortified to connnence operations with the plow. I explained that I ha«l never done any of this kind of work in mv life, but nevertheless ex- pressed myself as (juite confident tliat I would soon ac([uire tlie necessary dexterity with tliat instrument. The oxen w^ere then taken out of the stable and march- ed oft' to the field of our labors, where tliey were soon hitched on to a plow and handed over to my care, with instructions to commence plowing a parcel of land which had been carefully marked off for the purpose. Never having plowed before, and w^ith a team of oxen now in front of me, it can be readily understood that my position was somewhat bewildering at first, and I felt considerably at a loss to know just how I should conimence operations, and in what particular terms I should couch my language in addressing the beasts I now had in hand. At a word the oxen started off, and by a frantic effort I managed to get the plow in position, and sallied forth over the field. My first furrow could hardly have been termed a marked success. The stretch was a lon^- one,and the oxen seemed perfectly aware that a new and verdant hand was at the helm, and the proverbial stubborness was not long in coming to the surface when I endeavored to turn them about at the end of the furrow. I began by speaking to them in as kindly and persuasive a tone of voice as I could connnand, l)ut I soon found them utterly deaf to so mild a form of en- treaty, and not at all inclined to move in any direction. I ./' 120 Plowing. I thereupon assumed a somewhat sterner tone of com- mand, but again without result. There being no one in siglit, I lioUered at them with all my might and main, and to any but oxen T am sure that an ominous ring might easily have been detected in my voice and man- ner, which called for immediate and implicit oliedience. Tliey maintained an air of stolid indifference, however, and with maddening persistency firndy stood their ground. After completely exhausting the strength of niy vocal organs in this manner, I concluded to take a more severe mi^tliod of enforcing my commands, and looked about for some tangible means with which to convince my friends that I meant exactly what I said when I hollered " gee " or " haw " at them. I v/as not long in iinding a stout club, by the help of which I finally succeeded in making a little faster progress in wheelincr them about, but even then their stubbornness was something wonderful to behold. They seemed to know as well as myself that I w^as not an adept at the busi- ness, and did all in their power to harass anther day's work was ushered in. Lighting the lantein, I drew on my damp clothes, and crawled down the ladder leading to ihe kitchen, where my boss was awaiting my arrival. We were soon hard at work cleaning the stables, hauling water, feeding the cattle, and chopping wood forbr<^ak- fast. Breakfast over, I again resumed plowing, but with a grim determination this time to wallop those oxen into a state of implicit obedience, or die in the attempt. Well, I knocked and clubbed them in a most heartless manner, and almost incessantly, and at the end of my second day's plowing I had the grim satisfaction of knowing that they had now commenced to realize in a very marked degree that I meant notliing but business, and were less prone to take the " Gee " turn when I hollered " Haw," and " Haw " when I hollered " Gee" than on the previous day, and I also succeeded in accomplishing a good deal more work. At the end of my first week at this business I felt that I had good reason to congratulate myself on hav- ing gained considerable experience in the art of hand- ling a yoke of oxen. I had shouted my voice clean away, however, and it now required the greatest effort to speak above a whisper. One prominent feature in 128 124 Tlip Farmer and the Oxen. conrection with this business, whicli may be toniKMl spocinHy deinoraliziii^, is tlie constant provocation that exists to employ laii^^ua^e in dealing witli tlie beasts wliicli couM hardly be considered at all times as strictly oi'tholace alon<^side the towns I had visited on tho Canadian side of the line, and here I made up my mind to see what I could do in the way of procuring employment, it was the month of December, the weather was bitterly cold, my clothes were worn and thin, and altof^ether it seemed advisable to call a halt for a time in my promiscuous wanderin<^s. After tramping about the town for a while I located mys If at a small hotel, where I procured my suppe.i and passed the night. The following morning after breakfast I walked about the place in (juest of work, but the prospects seemed of a very discouraging char- acter. It is a precarious business, this looking for work in a strange place, but when it is one's only recourse it is astonishing with wha' stolid persistency it can be pursued, and seldom without reaching the aim in view in some shape or other, if one but means business. After exhausting the ordinary channels in quest of what I was after, I finally tried the station agent as a last resort, and was rewarded with an offer that sat anything but lightly on my crop. It consisted of shovelling coal at nights for a compensation of [S'j.5 per month. Little did I ever dream that things would come to such a pass as this, and yet there I was at this time with no other recourse in the world but to beg, steal, In Quest of Work, 131 i(\ II ly- A\Q.K\ on \\(i tic- itivi'ly Ik'd on up my Kiui'ing or, the I'll an\! of personal coiu]»liuieiits too, when tlie (piiet ])ersistencv of the Major, and t1ie terrihle wrath of the Judo-o was soniethino' too rich for anything- : The landlady was the only one who could in a nieasui'e i-estoj-e peac<' at such times, when it often ])ecanie necessary foi- hei' to remind the dudoe hefore all present that he was an '■ ould I'ascal, and hadn't paid lies hoard foi* ti'ee mons back." This ^-enerally had the desii'cd <"trect on one so sensitive as the dudge, and with fii-e in his eyes he would strut oil" and leaxe the tiidd in ]iossession of the Major, who mieiit he heard to reniark, " l guess the Jedge is dead beat this time, sure."' After these exhi- bitions they would seMom s])eak for the I'emaindei' of the da}^ but the sun was ne\-ei- known to have o()U(! down on their wrath. A fi'equent visitor to niy employer's otlice was a cer- tain Methodist minister. In vain T often tried to ac- count for tlu^ deep interest he manifested at all times regarding the practice of law, until one day I was thunderstruck to heai- him heave a o'reat sio-h and deliver himself thus : " Danni it all I'm o-etl'n' sick of preachin' to the wooden heads in this town. Thei'e ain't no money in it, and there ain't no thanks. Why, I can't get credit from my head j^usherand boss of the Sunday school for a cord of wood even. I've Just about made u]) my mind that I made a serious miscal- 's li])s. ol' til.' victor- ui;\' ol' istciiev o'C was \y was X ;U'<.' at • licr to \\<'is ail '(' luons I one so 3yes lie I of tile less tlic -;e vsh']- ii(. Ivv Ol O'OUC .s a ccr- to ac- 1 times 1 was ill and sifk of Thei-e of the just iniscal- The Unfaithful Parson. 137 cnlation when I studied for tlu' lioly ministry, and so I'm o-oiiV t() quit. Law's tlic tiling forme, and law it's o'oiii' to be."' He Iiorro\vr(] a few books and forthwith entered upon his studies of law, hut with wliat success I liavt' iK'Vt'r learned. StraimT to sav, Northern J )akota, well-known as one of the liardest states on tlie frontier, is an out-and- out ])rohibition state. How such a measure w^as ever successful!}' carried hy public sentiment is a stand- ill^• marvel, but the fact remains nevertheless. By this, lioweNer, it is not for one moment to be sup- posed that the law is li\('d up to, beyond the fact that it does not countenance the issue of sale of licenses for the disposal of litpior. Fn other respects it can hardly be termed a very j^'lowing success. There were oc- casional cases in Peml)ina where a man would be ob- liged to shut down his " blind pig," as they a^e called and cross the border for a time, but it was ^'enerally the result of some robbei'v or case of assault havino* l»een ])erpetrated upon his premises rather than the mere fact of his havini;- sold li(pior. This state of affairs exists to a much greater extent, however, along the frontier than farther south, for a few moments' warning is sutHcieiit to give a man ample opportunitv of making himself scarce by crossing the line into Canada. In the interior of the state greater caution is exercised, anina I was my«elf honored on several occasions with most tempting offers to abandon the law, and cast in my lot with the proprietor of a " blind pig. " Preferring to let well enough alone, however, I gave the business a wdde berth. Needless to say, the (juality of liquor sold in many of these places was of the vilest description, not to say the rankest poison. Alcohol and burnt sugar was a connnon substitute, and in the ab- sence of this, I have seen men drink Pain Killer, Flo- rida water, and other strange decoctions. I cannot conclude this brief record of the time I spent in Northern Dakota without mentioning the fact that during my stay in Pembina I witnessed one of the worst blizzards with which the country had been visited for years, and one in whose trail the loss of not a few lives followed. A strange spectacle was ])resent- ed on the streets of Pembina when it finally subsided, which was only after two days of continual howling of the most terrific blasts, during which time the air was full of snow and ice. Some parts of the ground, Back to Toronto. 139 after the storm, wore laid })erfectly liare, while drifts of snow and ice in others were mountains liigli. I re- meml)er with what spell-l»onnd wonder I behehl a drift in front of our office, a two-story structure, which was completely Inn-ied out of sight. It was the largest one in town, and, for the first time in his life, it was said of Mr. K , that lie had been " snowed under." While at work one afternoon in the offi.ce, I was not a little surprised upon receiving a telegram fioiiv Win- nipeg, requesting my presence thoic at once. After bidding my friends good-bye, I took my departure the following morning, in a good deal better shape, I am glad to record, than when I first landed in the town. The message subsequently turned out to be a summons for my return to Toronto, which I answered l)y tak- ing the next train.