LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 37 



Having no saddles, they secured buffalo robes on the 

 backs of two mules Killbuck, of course, riding his own 

 and lost no time in proceeding on their way. They 

 followed the course of the Indians up the stream, and 

 found that it kept the canons and gorges of the moun- 

 tains, where the road was better ; but it was with no 

 little difficulty that they made their way, the ground 

 being much broken, and covered with rocks. Kill- 

 buck's wound became very painful, and his leg stiffened 

 and swelled distressingly, but he still pushed on all 

 night, and, at daybreak, recognising their position, he 

 left the Indian trail, and followed a little creek which 

 rose in a mountain chain of moderate elevation, and 

 above which, and to the south, Pike's Peak towered high 

 into the clouds. With great difficulty they crossed this 

 ridge, and ascending and descending several smaller 

 ones, which gradually smoothed away as they met the 

 valley, about three hours after sunrise they found them- 

 selves in the south-east corner of the Bayou Salade. 



The Bayou Salade, or Salt Valley, is the most southern 

 of three very extensive valleys, forming a series of table- 

 lands in the very centre of the main chain of the Rocky 

 Mountains, known to the trappers by the name of the 

 " Parks." The numerous streams by which they are 

 watered abound in the valuable fur-bearing beaver, 

 whilst every species of game common to the West is 

 found here in great abundance. The Bayou Salade 

 especially, owing to the salitrose nature of the soil and 

 springs, is the favourite resort of all the larger animals 

 common to the mountains ; and, in the sheltered 



