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!
[Illustration: AN EXPERT HUNTER]
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.