April 5, 1902, Barrow Lagoon, Ambarino State:

After dealing with Detective Pinkerton and the Bounty Hunters, we had a time of true freedom, with each member enjoying their hard-earned lives to the fullest.

After April, we saw signs of Detective Pinkerton being active again, and decided to relocate the camp to the sparsely populated north. Mr. Fowler took a fancy to the village of Coulter in the mountains, and he said that the place had been abandoned for so long that no one would chase it that far.

The next day we packed up our things and set out on a modest trail up the mountain, where the snow was getting more and more uphill, and the cold air of the north could not calm the members' desire to settle down, and we camped on the shores of the Barrow Lagoon tonight. It's a tranquil lake, the constant hot mist on the lake washes away the cold air around it, some of the animals in the snow belt come to the lake to drink water and hunt, we caught a snow fox for dinner, believe me it is not a delicious meal, I guess we will have to get used to eating this meaty food in the future.

John closed his journal and reluctantly glanced at the fox meat roasting on the fire, and he wanted to shoot a chipmunk for supper, but considering that everyone had already slept, he put down his gun.

"Lady Manstar, go and rest, it's my turn."

John filled the fire with some wood and stood up, and it should have been his turn to keep vigil for everyone.

"It's really rare to have a beautiful night like this, and it's even more rare that only we are both awake." Not far away, Streich, who had been standing guard on a large rock, turned his head.

"I used to have insomnia, I don't know how I can't sleep enough now, and I'm always sleepy when hunting." John yawned, a little embarrassed.

"I envy you people who fall asleep easily." Stretch said as he walked towards the bed, "There are so many remote places around, it's easy to make good memories, don't you think?" John. ”

"Rest early, ma'am, there is still a long way to go to-morrow." John picked up his bolt rifle and climbed onto the rock......

The snow melted day by day, and John woke up to find that the snow around him had decreased a few points. The next day the Van der Linde gang had walked up the river in Bear's Tooth Creek, and by the time they reached Lake Isabella, the river had become small and rapid, and John realized that they had come to the middle of the snowy mountains.

Mr. Fowler said that the nearby rivers are almost all named after animals, and that the river often forms ravines or canyons where it flows through snow-capped ridges and valleys, and that the village of Coulter is located at the fork of a river called Spider Gap. Rumor has it that the town was built in consideration of the heating provided by the impact of the river, and also because the river water washes away the smell of hunters and prevents large beasts from following the smell to attack the village.

John had heard about the large beasts in the snowy mountains, and there was no shortage of animal injuries in the newspapers, which was one of the hot topics among the townspeople down the mountain, so John knew he had to find a way to keep the Van der Linde gang away from the threat of wild beasts.

Fortunately, John's gang has enough ammunition and manpower, so they don't need to worry about the danger of being attacked by wild beasts for the time being, and what they need to consider now is whether there are aborigines in Coulter Village and whether they can live safely.

Soon the problem was solved when John saw what he saw, the village of Coulter was located in the middle of the mountains, with only a few sparse houses, and the weeds were constantly shaking, and from which wild deer and hares jumped from time to time, and there was not the slightest appearance of inhabitation.

"Brothers and sisters, we've taken over a mess." Bibo said, picking up a piece of damp wood.

Seeing that someone was deflated, Mr. Fowler frowned on his horse: "Mr. Johnny, we are just new to the city. ”

"Why did we leave Elizabeth to come to this shabby, cold place?"

"We've got to get as far away as the damn detectives, the farther away the better." Mr. Fowler said.

"Huh, detective? The police? It's just to scare myself, I haven't seen a shadow of this kind of person in the past few years anyway. Biboha laughed and said with a haughty face.

At this time, Thomas came over: "Billo Johnny, have you forgotten what happened at St. Denis?" ”

"If you want me to say, gentlemen, these guys have long since stopped paying attention to us."

"Our quiet life in the Great Valley is temporary, those bastards are still staring at us all the time, and the village of Coulter is a relatively safe place, so we came here. Bibo, if you have any doubts, you can go and verify. Thomas looked at Bibo earnestly, and only the patriarch's words could persuade him.

"All in all, Coulter Village is our new home. Everyone, clean up this place by tonight. Mr. Fowler jumped off his horse and looked at the crumbling sunset.

When everyone had tied up their horses, Mr. Fowler went up to John and handed him an axe that he had picked up out of nowhere.

"John, it's time for us men to do some physical work, this axe, I found it by the Barrow Lagoon, it should be an axe for chopping wood, but we need it to cut down a tree to mend the house, tell me you're up to the job."

"No problem, wrap it up on me." John took the axe and said firmly.

Not only John, but Mr. Fowler gave everyone a job, "Don't be idle, ladies clear the ground of the weeds, gentlemen see if there is anything missing in the house." ”

John came to the woods beside him, and for a moment he sat down against a tree and opened his journal, and today was the beginning of a new life, and he had to remember it. Draw an illustration, John thought as he picked up his pencil.

"Sir, it's rare to see people who record the scenery like this now."

John's pen had just landed on the paper when a voice rang in his ears.

John hurriedly closed the journal, he remembered that he had entered the forest alone, could it be that there were other people living here?

"Who are you?" As it happened so quickly, John immediately grabbed his axe and stood up.

A strange man with glasses smiled and walked out from behind a tree.

"You need not be afraid, sir, I have no ill will."

"I thought there was no one else here, I had to inform everyone that this place has an owner." John whispered to himself.

The man didn't hear John's muttering, but he seemed to vaguely guess the other man's thoughts, "I'm just traveling through here, and I'm sorry if I disturb you." ”

"It's okay, it's lucky to meet a living person in such a remote place." John gradually let his guard down.

"Yes, luckily, we both have the same hobby – documenting sights."

"Recording the scene?" John shook the journal in his hand, "I'm just sketching a rough outline, which means I've been here." ”

"Yes, sir, this is an art, and I am a photographer who travels all over the mountains and rivers to take pictures of beautiful landscapes, so it seems that our purpose is the same. So, sir, what are you going to trace when you come to the snowy mountains? ”

John raised the axe in his hand and said with some embarrassment, "Actually, I'm here to cut down trees." ”

The man's eyes widened as he looked at what John was holding, "Oh, sir, isn't this my axe?" Did you find it in Barrow Lagoon? I was chasing an American stag and lost my only weapon. ”

"You want this axe back? This is something that a friend gave me, and I can't believe you based on your words alone. ”

"On the contrary, I have another gift for you, sir, but I also want to ask you to do something." The man rummaged through his suitcase, and after a while he pulled out a camera, "This is an experimental camera that clearly reproduces the colors of objects, not just black and white." ”

"It's too expensive." John said, looking at the rectangular box in front of him.

"I want you to take some photos of regional animals and collect them in my collection. I've been with other people before, but it's a legendary gunslinger, and I met a gentleman at Valentine's tavern, and I don't know how he's going. ”

"So you've given someone your camera?" John was surprised to say that as far as he knew, it was worth a dozen dollars.

"Yes, I'm willing to share my tools if I meet like-minded partners."

"You're selfless in a way, give it to me, and I'll see what I can do."

"Okay, sir, you can't put this matter on the shelf, it's a hobby, and it's the same as your habit of drawing, it will make you more literate and closer to civilization." The man said, and he could tell he was very happy.

"Oh...... By the way, I'm here to cut down trees, I can't go back empty-handed, come and get Mr. Handle, and I'll give you back the axe, you can't do it without weapons in the middle of nowhere, let alone take pictures of very aggressive animals. John said.

The last rays of sunlight loomed over the horizon, and John slammed his axe into the deep chisel marks, the crucial blow, after which the tree fell heavily, sending up a cloud of snowflakes.

John hauled the wood back to the village of Coulter alone, and found that the work of the camp was almost done, and everyone was gathered around the campfire, and Thomas somehow got a banjo, and sang the song of his hometown leisurely in the eyes of everyone.

"John, come and enjoy some peace." Miller pointed to a case of beer and shouted at John.

John smiled mysteriously, then took out his camera and pressed the shutter button in the midst of the crowd's exclamations.

"It's a moment that deserves to be remembered forever." John said in his heart.