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Forest, Lake and Prairie
Chapter XXII
Fort Pitt - Hunter's paradise - Sixteen buffalo with seventeen arrows - "Big" Bear.


FORT PITT we found on the north bank of the Saskatchewan, standing on a commanding bench near the river, and having a magnificent outlook —a wide, long valley, enclosed by high hills, which rose terrace beyond terrace in the distance, and the swiftly flowing river coming and going with majestic bends at its feet.

This was then the buffalo fort of the Saskatchewan District, the great herds coming closer and oftener to this point than to any other of the Hudson's Bay posts.

This was also a famous horse-breeding spot, the grasses in the vicinity being especially adapted for that business.

Here was a hunter's paradise—plenty of buffalo and fine horses. No wonder good hunters would be the result!

From here the party went out which had the Indian with it, to whom the Hudson's Bay officer gave seventeen arrows, and said, "Now, let us see what you can do;" and the Indian modestly answered, "I can but try," and killed sixteen buffalo in the straight "race set before" him.

This was the trading home of Big Bear, who for years was hunter for the fort, and who, later on, much against his own will, was deceived and persuaded to join the foolish rebellion of 1885.


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