of % T^ir dllegii 



UPON the great western plains of the United States, and 

 in the vicinity of the Rocky Mountains are found a class of 

 men, unlike any other upon the face of the earth. They are 

 whites, and generally speak a language which might be called 

 English ; but they possess more of the nature of the roving 

 red men than of the feelings and habits pertaining to the civi- 

 lized members of thefr race. To nerves of steel, which fit 

 them to endure without a murmur extremities of toil and tor- 

 ment, they unite a daring and restless spirit, for which there 

 cannot be too much excitement. War and the chase have 

 for them charms possessed by nothing else in the world. 



(59) 



