136 ARRIVAL AT FORT COLVILLE. 
small size, and habit of hiding in thick brush, 
renders it extremely difficult to find. 
We camp at a place called ‘ Dead Man’s Prairie.’ 
Three roughly-made crosses denote the graves 
of three men, who (so the story goes) lost their 
way on this prairie, and having no provisions, 
dug roots to live on; but not knowing the edible 
from the poisonous varieties, ate some bulbs that 
killed all three of them; their bodies were 
discovered and buried, and the place has been 
named Dead Man’s Prairie ever since. 
From this not very cheering spot we follow up 
the Colville valley, pass by some very good farms, 
where excellent grain and vegetables are grown; 
and on the 12th reach our destination, Fort Col- 
ville, already described in vol. i., in the chapter 
on Salmon Fishing at the Kettle Falls (page 71). 
