AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
RALPH JOHN WESLEY HOWARD

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and discovered red spots on the ground and a little farther on, a lone antelope was lying quietly in the snow. We removed the head so it would bleed well and removed the entrails to lighten the burden, tied the front and rear legs together with a length of strong cord, slung it over a shoulder and started back to camp. One was carrying the rifles and the other carrying the meat. We were now two miles north and two miles east of camp. We took a straight line for camp, which crossed another coulee before we reached the river. When we reached the coulee, we saw another herd of antelope about six hundred yards away. We each took a shot and now we each had meat to carry. It was dark when we reached the river and we hung our meat in the trees where the coyotes couldn’t get at it. It was only luck that we didn’t walk into the open water it was dark. We reached a cold camp, no light, no wood, no axe, and no blankets. Good shack, good cook-stove. After we searched around the buildings we collected some scraps and soon had a fire going. The stove had enough cracks to give some light and the only thing in the shack that resembled furniture was an old bedstead and some springs. We pulled this over by the stove and kept the fire going all night. The next morning, we took our rifles and crossed the river to bring the meat. First we circled about a mile and got another antelope. When we had them skinned and carried to the camp, it was near night. Frank said, "I have to be at the ranch early in the morning so Mr. and Mrs. Smart can get an early start for Swift Current to catch the train, I am half way there now, so you bring the meat in, in the morning". When I got the meat loaded on the pony, there was no room for me on top, so I walked and led him by the bridle reins. Mr. Smart wanted us to spend the winter with him, but we had planned to do some trapping. When he got back from town, he, Mr. Smart had a winter man with him. Frank had a light wagon and harness and we each had a good saddle. Frank also had a tent. We loaded our entire possessions in the wagon, told Mr. Smart, goodbye, and headed up the river for a vacant summer camp further on. This camp was located where the Mirey Creek joins the South Saskatchewan River, on the south side. There was a good log shack here and plenty of wood handy. We arrived here mid-afternoon and set up our stove and made some coffee. We had brought along a frozen quarter antelope. I cut some of this into inch square pieces and then cut a slit, half an inch deep, and dropped in a dose of strichnine, and then closed the gash with lard.

When we drove up to the shack, we saw a couple of coyotes about a half a mile up the creed, sitting on top of a cut bank. Frank and I drove up to see what the attraction was, and found a cow mired in the creed and partly eaten. I scattered a dozen baits in