Lady's Life on a Farm in Manitoba — 32 - Letter 32
IMOGENE BASIN, September 12th.
Two days' after our expedition to San Miguel we awoke to find ourselves in a "white world," the snow being two inches deep.
It is said to be a most unusually early storm, but it was not altogether a surprise: the glass had been falling and storms had been audibly growling all round us.
The snow only lasted about twenty-four hours, just long enough for us to realise and admire Imogene in its winter garb, and enable us to try and walk in snow- shoes.
We did not attempt either going up or down hill in them, so that our performance was confined to the small space in front of the cabin.
With the exception of this one storm our weather continues lovely;
bright, sunshiny, warm days--we do not even require an extra jacket out of doors until after sunset--with a slight frost every night.
Last Monday we started early, taking provisions with us, and spent a long day in Red Mountain Park, sketching the marvellously brilliant scarlet peaks, whilst Mr. W---- shot grouse, of which he got three and a half brace.
The grouse are much like ours, only larger, and roost in trees.
These parks abound in game.
We have been wishing to see a bear; at a safe distance, perhaps, but have never succeeded, though several have been killed since our arrival.
Whilst shooting, Mr. W---- came upon the fresh trail of one and its unfinished meal of a gophir not very far from where we lunched; only fancy what a stampede there would have been had the bear appeared.
We are always looking out for thin trees round which a bear's claws would overlap, and therefore they could not climb, to take refuge up in case of danger; but they very seldom attack, unless wounded or a she-bear with cubs.
In the spring and autumn these parks abound in deer; but in summer they go above timber line to graze on the succulent bunch grasses and to be free from flies.
There are also mountain-sheep, coyotes, and foxes, and along the streams several beaver; but we never have seen any animal bigger than a prairie-dog, or smaller than a coney.
Chipmunks and the mountain-rats disturbed our slumbers at night, running about the cabin, and I do not at all think we should like our dormitory were we not watched over during our slumbers by a cat, the most sociable of beasts, who as a rule sleeps between us, and protests loudly if we either of us move or wake him.
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