LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 27 



which the Indians had been cooking at the moment of the 

 attack, made instant preparations to quit the scene of 

 their exploit, not wishing to trust to the chance of the Ra- 

 pahos being too frightened to again molest them. 



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 mountains, 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. Killbuck's wound became very pain- 

 ful, 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 thp favour- 

 ite resort of all the larger animals common to the mountains; 

 and in the sheltered prairies of the Bayou, the buffalo, 

 forsaking the barren and inclement regions of the exposed 

 plains, frequent these upland valleys in the winter months : 

 and feeding upon the rich and nutritious buffalo grass, 

 which on the bare prairies at that season is either dry and 

 rotten or entirely exhausted, not only sustain life, but 

 retain a great portion of the " condition" that the abundant 



