Glendive is narrow and quite shoal, the channel not being
more than eighteen inches deep. The bottom is composed of gravel, but
having been solidified by the alkali, is like a solid rock. The channel
runs in every direction and is at times diverted by great sandbars
strewn with the most beautiful agates, on which no human foot had ever
trod before Paul touched them.

In deference to General Merritt's wishes and a fellow feeling for the
sleepy sentinels, Paul did not start until seven o'clock on the morning
of the 17th. All the inhabitants of the town went to the river bank,
among them, the General's handsome daughter, who presented Paul with a
set of colors, which he flew on the Baby throughout the trip. A cannon
salute was fired and he began his lonely and dangerous journey.

In an incredibly short space of time he was away from all signs of
civilization and running very fast on the lonely river. He had been
warned at the start to look out for hostile bands of Crow Indians who
were hunting in that vicinity, so he made fast time all day. Now and
again he struck rapids and had to exercise the utmost care to keep his
suit from being cut on the rocks. He saw any quantity of game along the
route, particularly black tailed deer that frequently came to the
water's edge. He amused himself by blowing blasts on the bugle and watch
them dash up the banks and disappear in the timber. That evening he
decided to camp on a bar across which a cottonwood tree was lying, that
promised an excellent back log for a fire. Either shore was heavily
wooded. Taking off his suit, he gathered a quantity of brush; but was
careful not to create too much smoke for fear of guiding Indians to
his resting place. He cooked supper and leaving a little fire
smoldering, put on the rubber pantaloons, using the tunic as a pillow
and laid down, the hooting of owls furnishing music to soothe his
slumbers. Being somewhat anxious about Indians, he slept lightly and
about two o'clock, he was startled by what seemed to be a canoe landing
on the bank near by. He rose cautiously from behind the cottonwood
log. Instead of a canoe full of hostile Indians, he saw a magnificent
elk sharply defined against the dark background of the shore, his
sides glistening like silver, being wet from his swim across the river.
The huge animal was uneasy, throwing his splendidly antlered head
back, sniffing the air and pawing the ground. Boyt