LIFE IN A DUGOUT. 99 



and at daybreak were on the banks of the river. The 

 road went directly to the water's edge, and could be 

 seen emerging from the other side, almost imme- 

 diately opposite. Confident that they were at the 

 ford the hunters drove in. The water was soon up 

 to the sides of the horses, and the wagon was almost 

 floating. There was evidently a mistake somewhere, 

 but there was nothing to be done but go on, and after 

 a hard struggle the opposite bank was reached. They 

 afterwards learned that the road went down the river 

 some distance before it crossed, and then came back 

 on the other side to the point where it could be seen. 



Thompson's ranch was reached at dark. The 

 house, or dugout, was a hole in a bank with a door 

 in front, but no windows. It was filled with cow- 

 boys, who were very hospitable and helped to care for 

 the ponies and got supper for the travellers. Pipes 

 were brought out after supper, and the ill-ventilated 

 room was soon so filled with smoke that Dyche and 

 the professor, who were not smokers, were compelled 

 to make frequent trips to the open air for a chance to 

 breathe. 



In the course of the evening it was learned that 

 there was a turkey-roost about two miles down the 

 creek, and one of the cowboys volunteering to guide 

 the hunters, they made the trip. They had the 

 pleasure of seeing a lot of squirrel nests, and returned 

 to the hut after midnight. 



Early next morning, with heads dull from sleep- 

 ing in the atmosphere of tobacco smoke, Dyche and 

 Robinson started for a hunt with cowboy guides. 

 Robinson and Cimarron Jim went down the river, 



