On Western Trails in the Early Seventies
Frontier Pioneer Life in the Canadian North-west, By John McDougall

Contents

• Chapter I.
  Condition of Red River country—Sublime isolation
• Chapter II.
  Up the Bow Valley—Visit "Bear's Paw's" lodge—Move into South country—Cross the Big Red
• Chapter III.
  Push on to Edmonton—Down the Saskatchewan—Call at Fort Ellis
• Chapter IV.
  At White Fish Lake—Spurious civilization—Back to Edmonton—Buffalo hunt
• Chapter V.
  Down the Red Deer—"The Dry Rat "—surrounded by Blackfeet—Await developments
• Chapter VI.
  Clamoring for our blood—Learn some Blackfoot—Leave Blackfoot camp—Down the Bow Valley—Doctor loses his teeth
• Chapter VII.
  Ford the Bow River—Blackfoot method of catching eagles—"Dry Rat" shoots ducks on the Sabbath— Reach Fort Kipp—Country without government— Cross the 49th Parallel
• Chapter VIII.
  Cross the Milk River—Down the big Alkali Flat—Fight with buffalo bulls—Reach Fort Benton, terrible blizzard—Take shelter at a ranch
• Chapter IX.
  Up the Teton—Blizzard continues—Buffalo hunts— Across the Divide into the North country—Cross Tail Creek
• Chapter X.
  Ford the Saskatchewan—In the Peace Hills—Meet "Muddy Bull"—Ford the Red Deer—Great buffalo chase—Violent snowstorm—Cross the Dog Pond into foothill country—Land a revelation to us— Move Into Bow Valley
• Chapter XI.
  Determine to build—sawpits erected—Finish our fort— Kept alert all night by Blackfeet—Start for Edmonton—Old buffalo trails our bridle paths
• Chapter XII.
  Camp in pine forest—Leave Chinook range—Relax our vigilance—New Year's Eve—With friends at Edmonton, cold intense
• Chapter XIII.
  Bear's Bill—Breaking trail—On short rations—Begin slow march to mountains—Misery delights In company—Spend night in Indian lodge
• Chapter XIV.
  Reach our fort—Magnificent buffalo hunt—Narrow escape for my life—Saved by a log—Stamping out whiskey trade—Urge Hudson's Bay Co. to extend operations
• Chapter XV.
  Hear from Edmonton—Prepare for long trip—Again rolling south
• Chapter XVI.
  Cross the Elbow—What is good for John is god for you—Cross High River—Meet genuine son of Erin —Strike for upper trail along the Mountains— Arrive at Plegan agency
• Chapter XVII.
  At Fort Shaw—Life in Montana—Treatment of Indians—In Whoopup country—Meet strange character
• Chapter XVIII.
  Down the Little Bow—Fall in with Indians—Ticklish position—Harangue the Indians—Saved—Horse trading
• Chapter XIX.
  Scouting - Wonderful instinct of animal life
• Chapter XX.
  Nearing our fort - Mosquitos worst I ever saw - Brother's wife gives 'birth to daughter
• Chapter XXI.
  Ran buffalo herd - Meet "Old. Sun " - Become acquainted with "Big Plume" - Harassed by Blackfeet - First news of the Mounted Police - Government decides to establish law and order - Break news to Indians.
• Chapter XXII.
  Receive my commission from Government - Make ready for long journey - Mishap in river - Trouble in crossing stream.
• Chapter XXIII.
  Cross the Ghost River - Deliver message to Stoneys - Arrange with head chief "Bear's Paw," to accompany me - Big drunk among Indians - Interview - Chief Crowfoot.
• Chapter XXIV.
  Strike for Whoopup country - In the great pasture country - Meet Mr. Joseph Healey - Keep Union Jack - floating on our waggon.
• Chapter XXV.
  Up in the foothills - Visit the fort - What might have been.
• Chapter XXVI.
  Tribes begin to gather - Hudson's Bay Company decide to establish a fort - Make friends with Indians - My brother returns from Fort Benton - Buffalo abound.
• Chapter XXVII.
  No word from Mounted Police - Whiskey traders flourishing - Ugly rumors from Old Man's River - Decide to investigate - Encounter violent storms - Fall in with Indians.
• Chapter XXVIII.
  Make for Pine Creek - Cross the Porcupine Hills - Indian's body cached in tree - Meet Col. Macleod of Mounted Police - Police build fort - Government established without a shot being fired - Reach home again.
• Chapter XXIX.
  Start for Northern Fort and settlement on bank of North Saskatchewan - Found Mounted Police quartered at Edmonton - Col. Jarvis' marvellous stories - Police adapt themselves to new conditions - Find our cache on the Red Deer.
• Chapter XXX.
  An unexpected addition to our larder—Help Hudson's Bay men—Travel through great herds of buffalo— Kill a whole herd of buffalo at one run—Buy unique "silk robe" from Stoney Indian
• Chapter XXXI.
  Back to the fort—Prepare for permanent establishment of mission—Send despatches to Mounted Police at Fort Macleod—First Protestant Church parade of Mounted Police—Taken ill suddenly—Make trying journey for help
• Chapter XXXII.
  Reach home again—Major Walsh establishes Mounted Police post in Cypress Hills—Meet strange frontiersman—Montana rattlesnakes—One law for Indian and another law for white man
• Chapter XXXIII.
  At Fort Benton—Steamer comes up the river—Strange scenes on landing—First sight of a silk hat—Start for Sun River settlement
• Chapter XXXIV.
  A unique storm—Stock stampede—Half a million buffalo in one herd—Surprised by Piegans
• Chapter XXXV.
  Government fully established—Mounted Police in control of situation—Meet Chief "Bear's Paw "—Good news from the hill fort—Home again

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