railroad-owner, were years of intense
activity.

* * * * *

While yet a clerk for J. W. Bass and Company, Mr. Hill made the
acquaintance of Norman Kittson, as picturesque a figure as ever wore a
coonskin cap, and evolved from this to all the refinements of
Piccadilly, only to discard these and return to the Simple Life.

Kittson had been connected with the Hudson Bay Company. When Hill met
him, he was running a fast express to Fort Garry, now Winnipeg, going
over the route with ox-carts. In Summer it took one month to go and the
same to return. In Winter dog-sleds were used and the trip was made more
quickly.

Kittson was the inventor and patentee of the Red River Ox-Cart. It was a
vehicle made of wood, save for the linch-pins. The wheels were enormous,
some being ten feet in diameter. It was Kittson's theory that if you
could make your wheel high enough it would eliminate friction and run of
its own momentum. The wheels were made by boring and pinning plank on
plank, criss-cross, and then chalking off with a string from the center.
Then you sawed out your wheel, and there you were.

The creaking of a train of these ox-carts could be heard five miles.
Kittson had the government contract for carrying the mails, and managed,
with the help of trading in furs and loading up with merchandise on his
own account, to make considerable money.

When Hill was in his twenties he went over the route with Kittson, and
made several trips, also, alone with dog-sleds, for his friend, when
there was a rush of freight. On one such occasion he had one companion,
a half-breed of uncertain character, but who was taken along as a guide,
he being familiar with the route. It was midwinter, the snow was heavy
and deep, there were no roads, and much of the way led over frozen lakes
and along streams. To face the blizzards of that country, alone, at that
time required the courage of the seasoned pioneer.

Hill didn't much like the looks of his companion. And after a week out,
when the fellow suggested their heading for Lake Superior and dividing
their cargo, Hill became alarmed. The man was persistent and inclined to
be quarrelsome. Each man had a knife and a rifle. Hill waited until they
reached a high ridge. The snow lay dazzling white as far as the eye
could reach. The nearest habitation was fifty miles away.

Under pretense of fixing the harness on his dogs, Jim got about forty
feet from his man, quickl