It Was A Lovely Trout - By Far The Largest We Had Seen,
And Major Stokes Insisted That We Should Take Him To The Commissary
Scales, Where He Weighed Over Three And One Half Pounds!
The jumping about of my big trout ruined the fishing, of course, in
that part of the stream for some time, so, with a look of disgust for
things generally, Captain Martin folded his rod and camp stool and
returned to his tent.
I had the trout served for our dinner, and,
having been so recently caught, it was delicious. These mountain trout
are very delicate, and if one wishes to enjoy their very finest
flavor, they should be cooked and served as soon as they are out of
the water. If kept even a few hours this delicacy is lost - a fact we
have discovered for ourselves on the march up.
The camp to-night is near the house of a German family, and I am
writing in their little prim sitting room, and Billie squirrel is with
me and very busy examining' things generally. I came over to wait
while the tents were being pitched, and was received with such cordial
hospitality, and have found the little room so warm and comfortable
that I have stayed on longer than I had intended. Soon after I came my
kind hostess brought in a cup of most delicious coffee and a little
pitcher of cream - real cream - something I had not tasted for six
weeks, and she also brought a plate piled high with generous pieces of
German cinnamon cake, at the same time telling me that I must eat
every bit of it - that I looked "real peaked," and not strong enough to
go tramping around with all those men! When I told her that it was
through my own choice that I was "tramping," that I enjoyed it she
looked at me with genuine pity, and as though she had just discovered
that I did not have good common sense.
We start on early in the morning, and it will take two three days to
cross the mountains. The little camp of one company looks lonesome
after the large regimental camp we have been with so long. The air is
really wonderful, so clear and crisp and exhilarating. It makes me
long for a good horse, and horses we intend to have as soon as
possible. We are anticipating so much pleasure in having a home once
more, even if it is to be of logs and buried in snow, perhaps, during
the winter. Hal is outside, and his beseeching whines have swelled to
awful howls that remind me of neglected duties in the tent.
CAMP BAKER, MONTANA TERRITORY,
November, 1877.
IT was rather late in the afternoon yesterday when we got to this
post, because of a delay on the mountains. But this did not cause
inconvenience to anyone - there was a vacant set of quarters that
Lieutenant Hayden took possession of at once for his family, and where
with camp outfit they can be comfortable until the wagons are
unloaded.
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