224 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 



they effected by felling several large cottonwoods, and 

 throwing them in the form of a horse-shoe : the entrance, 

 however, being narrower than in that figure, and se- 

 cured by upright logs, between which poles were fixed 

 to be withdrawn at pleasure. The house, or " fort " as 

 anything in the shape of a house is called in these 

 parts, where, indeed, every man must make his house 

 a castle was loopholed on all sides, and boasted a 

 turf chimney of rather primitive construction, but 

 which answered the purpose of drawing the smoke from 

 the interior. Game was plentiful all around ; bands 

 of buffalo were constantly passing the Arkansa ; and 

 there were always deer and antelope within sight of the 

 fort. The pasture, too, was good and abundant being 

 the rich grama or buffalo grass, which, although rather 

 dry at this season, still retains its fattening qualities j 

 and the animals soon began to improve wonderfully in 

 condition and strength. 



Of the four hundred head of mules and horses with 

 which they had started from California, but one-half 

 reached the Arkansa. Many had been killed for food, 

 (indeed they had furnished the only provisions during 

 the journey,) many had been stolen by the Indians, or 

 shot by them at night ; and many had strayed off and 

 not been recovered. We have omitted to mention 

 that the Sonora girl, Juanita, and her spouse, Ned 

 Wooton, remained behind at Koubideau's fort and 

 rendezvous on the Uintah, which our band had passed 

 on the other side of the mountains, whence they 

 proceeded with a party to Taos in New Mexico, and 



