IN THE OLD WEST 



men following in rear with shouldered rifles — 

 old Brand himself, mounted on an Indian horse, 

 leading the advance. The women were safely 

 housed under the shelter of the wagon-tilts, and 

 out of the first the mild face of Mary Brand 

 smiled adieu to many of her old companions who 

 had accompanied them thus far, and now wished 

 them "God-speed" on their long journey. Some 

 mountaineers, too, galloped up dressed in buck- 

 skin, and gave them rough greeting — warning 

 the men to keep their " eyes skinned," and look 

 out for the Arapahos, who were out on the 

 waters of the Platte. Presently all retired, and 

 then the huge wagons and the little company were 

 rolling on their solitary way through the deserted 

 prairies — passing the first of the many thousand 

 miles which lay between them and the " setting 

 sun," as the Indians style the distant regions of 

 the Far West. And on, without casting a look 

 behind him, doggedly and boldly marched old 

 Brand, followed by his sturdy family. 



They made but a few miles that evening, for 

 the first day the start is all that is effected; and 

 nearly the whole morning is taken up in getting 

 fairly under weigh. The loose stock had been 

 sent off earlier, for they had been collected and 

 corraled the previous night ; and, after a twelve 

 hours' fast, it was necessary they should reach 

 the end of the day's journey betimes. They 

 found the herd grazing in the bottom of the Ar- 



