WASPS NUMEROUS

three days we encountered nest after nest of these vicious
insects, and a high old time they gave the horses. During
the first few days we had no trouble with them, but later
on we got into an area where they were numerous. By
that time we had got the horses fairly well broken and
we were looking forward to some pleasant travelling.
Alas ! it was not to be. All day long would come the cry
‘“ Wasps, wasps!” and then pandemonium would break
loose, Being in the lead, my horse escaped molestation,
as also did the two or three immediately behind me,
but those farther back would be assailed by these yellow
warriors in swarms. The men would only be stung very
occasionally, as the horses had to withstand the brunt of
the attack. Every time a nest was reached there would
be a rush of maddened, bucking, plunging animals, either
dashing wildly along the trail or racing off into the woods,
bumping one another, tearing their packs off and stam-
peding for a quarter of a mile before they could be stopped.
At first the antics of the horses amused us, but after we
had had to repack them a dozen times it became no
laughing matter.

For four days we had a constant succession of wasp
nests to pass, but in spite of it all not a horse was seriously
injured nor a man out of temper, as well they might
have been under such trials.

After travelling for five days it is my usual custom to
branch off the trail to a sheep and goat range. It isa
hard piece of country to get into. For the first few
miles you pick your way to the best of your ability through
a lot of dead timber ; then you climb up a steep side hill
almost to a timber line and descend into a nice grassy
valley, up which you go at an easy grade to as high as
you can find timber to camp in. The next day, taking
only what provisions you need for a week or ten days,
you again begin another ascent. This time you keep on
going up and up over open grassy ground, which is broken
by an occasional gulch or small valley, until you reach an
altitude of over six thousand feet.

At this altitude patches of snow are to be found all