234 The Wilderness H^t,nter. 



rain ; in consequence water was scarce. Twice they were 

 forced to cross wild, barren wastes, where the pools had 

 dried up, and they suffered terribly from thirst. On the 

 first occasion the horses were in good condition, and they 

 travelled steadily, with only occasional short halts, for 

 over thirty-six hours, by which time they were across 

 the waterless country. The journal reads : " January 

 27th. Big hunt no water, and we left Quinn's block- 

 house this morning 3 A.M. on the go all night- 

 hot. January 28th. No water hot at seven we 

 struck water, and by eight Stinking Creek grand ' hur- 

 rah.' " On the second occasion, the horses were weak and 

 travelled slowly, so the party went forty-eight hours with- 

 out drinking. "February iQth. Pulled on twenty-one 

 miles trail bad freezing night, no water, and wolves 

 after our fresh meat. 2oth. Made nineteen miles over 

 prairie ; again only mud, no water, freezing hard fright- 

 ful thirst. 2 1 st. Thirty miles to Clear Fork, fresh 

 water." These entries were hurriedly jotted down at the 

 time, by a boy who deemed it unmanly to make any 

 especial note of hardship or suffering ; but every plains- 

 man will understand the real agony implied in working 

 hard for two nights, one day, and portions of two others, 

 without water, even in cool weather. During the last few 

 miles the staggering horses were only just able to drag the 

 lightly loaded wagon, for they had but one with them at the 

 time, while the men plodded along in sullen silence, their 

 mouths so parched that they could hardly utter a word. 

 My own hunting and ranching were done in the north 

 where there is more water ; so I have never had a similar 



