LETTER XIII.—Livingston to Bozeman—Bozeman City—Arrival at 129 Frank's ranche—Frank's progress—The shanty—Kitten and mice—Aroused by a ground squirrel—Variation of climate—A snowstorm—Our beds drenched—"Baching" it—Shaving under difficulties—Situation—Fertility of the soil—Cultivation of strawberries—Fine grazing district—Climate—Story of our holiday on the ranche—Fishing in West Gallatin river—New bridge and old canoe—"The coloured aristocracy"—Three bear stories LETTER XIV.—Saying "Goodbye"—Departure in a heavy 160 snowstorm—Gallatin Valley—Helena—Garrison—Butte City—Salt Lake City—Polygamy—Articles of faith—Trial of a murderer—Trial of polygamists LETTER XV.—Leave for Cheyenne—"Rock Springs"—Murder of 186 Chinese—Mr. Black's "Green Pastures" and bottle of champagne—"Hell upon Wheels"—Big Horn Cowboy and Milord LETTER XVI.—We leave Cheyenne—Arrival at Omaha—The barber's 197 shop—Narrow escape from having my head shaved—Arrival at Chicago—Niagara Falls CONCLUSION 202 APPENDIX 205 How to obtain Government Land 205 Pre-Emptions 206 Homesteads 207 Timber Culture Claims 209 Desert Land 211 Government Land Offices 213 Diagram of Time across the American Continent 214 [Illustration: THE UNITED STATES OF NORTH AMERICA] [Illustration] FRANK'S RANCHE; OR, MY HOLIDAY IN THE ROCKIES. PART I. LETTER No. I. My bright anticipations—Melancholy forebodings—Bound for the Rockies—Frank's start for the Far West—Farming in Minnesota—A new scheme—Starting a creamery—Glowing hopes—Failure and disappointment. _London, July, 1885._ Last year I spent a pleasant time in Dovedale, and "The Amateur Angler" told you all about it. This autumn I had looked forward to a holiday in some retired nook in leafy Herefordshire or Shropshire. I had my eye on an old farmhouse at which to make my headquarters for fishing in The Teme, or The Lugg, or The Arrow. As a boy, I knew that old house well; every corner of it, all the buildings, orchards, and lovely green meadows surrounding it; the woods, the ravines, the far-off mountains, and, above all, the pleasant river which ran through and around the farm, wherein I used to swim and fish for trout and grayling, are vividly before me now.