4O ADVENTURES OF DR. ALLEN. 



lot of fellows, whose captain was Samuel Houston, of Texas, 

 a grizzly bear in the fight, always ready with his old Haw- 

 kins rifle, which never left his side. 



Our train now started without a hitch, and we had little 

 pack-outfit, led by Charles Blackburn, the poet scout. When 

 we made our first camp I received some instructions in 

 camping from Nickelson. At his suggestion, fifty-six wag- 

 ons formed a corral by putting the tongue of each on the 

 inner side and the front wheel inside of the hind wheel of 

 the forward wagon, thus making a deadlock not easily 

 moved. Thus our stock was enclosed, and, early the follow- 

 ing morning,, while the outfit was preparing to start, I gave 

 an order for the guards to shoot any person seen inside of 

 the corral after the retiring hour. In this way our horse 

 thieves were checkmated and they never secured the stock 

 which they sought. I then started off for a moment to take 

 a view of the surrounding country. I saw five large buttes, 

 which raised their heads like sentinels, overlooking the ver- 

 dant valley, which is about one mile in width and is a good 

 grazing district. Red Water takes its name from the color 

 of the earth through which it flows. 



A hard day's drive brought us to the headwaters of the 

 Red Water. We settled our camp in a beautiful spot sur- 

 rounded by high hills. There was plenty of wood and pure 

 cold water at hand. After the heat and toil of the day it 

 seemed a little paradise. We felt all of that sweet comfort 

 and content that the weary man of business feels, when, in 

 dressing-gown and slippers, he throws himself into an easy- 

 chair before the cheerful fire, to rest from his day's labor. 

 The camp had the appearance of a theater, where all were 

 eagerly performing their respective parts. 



Suddenly the music of a violin and a guitar, touched 

 by skillful fingers, broke upon the stillness of the evening. 



