BLACK ELK. 219 



pests; they were riven and seamed by lightning, and, 

 often being torn from off their place of growth, they 

 hung suspended high above the travellers' path. 

 Having at length toiled up a weary ascent, the party 

 observed on a projecting ledge of the succeeding 

 mountain two elks, grazing on the scanty herbage 

 which grew there. They seemed at a short distance, 

 and in consequence of that illusion which is common 

 in hilly countries, they appeared of a vast size. The 

 party were surprised at the heedlessness of these fine 

 creatures, which remained feeding tranquilly, while 

 they clambered along the rock in full view. But in 

 a moment the noble elks were gone, they bounded 

 majestically off, and left the authors of their alarm 

 in silent astonishment, at the headlong course which 

 they fearlessly pursued. The view from this ele- 

 vated spot was magnificent. To the right, and easy 

 of access, a bold projecting rock upheld a solitary 

 cedar; while the huge rampart of naked rock, 

 which had been seen from beneath to stretch across 

 the valley, presented a magnificent barrier to the 

 view; round the extreme verge of which the river 

 whirled, and flashed, and sparkled in the sunbeams. 

 To the east extended the vast prairie over which the 

 travellers had so long pursued their toilsome and gra- 

 dually ascending way; but the undulations which 

 swelled its surface disappeared, and the whole lay 

 like a map before them. While surveying the 

 mighty landscape, one moving object occasionally 

 became visible, by reflecting the rays of the setting 

 sun. This object was a white flag, waving in the 

 gentle breeze, and making known the place of the 

 travellers' camp: the only spot in the boundless 



