122 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



buffalo bulls loomed huge and indistinct in the vapoury 

 distance. In the timbered valley of the river, deer and 

 elk were standing motionless in the water, under the shade 

 of the overhanging cotton- woods, seeking a respite from the 

 persevering attacks of swarms of horse-flies and musquitos; 

 and now and then a heavy splash was heard, as they tossed 

 their antlered heads into the stream, to free them from the 

 venomous insects that buzzed incessantly about them. In 

 the sandy prairie, beetles of an enormous size were rolling 

 in every direction huge balls of earth, pushing them with 

 their hind legs with comical perseverance ; cameleons 

 darted about, assimilating the hue of their grotesque bodies 

 with the colour of the sand : groups of prairie-dog houses 

 were seen, each with its inmate barking lustily on the roof; 

 whilst under cover of nearly every bush of sage or cactus 

 a rattlesnake lay glittering in lazy coil. Tantalising the 

 parched sight, the neighbouring peaks of the lofty Wind 

 River Mountains glittered in a mantle of sparkling snow; 

 whilst Sweet Water Mountain, capped in cloud, looked 

 grey and cool, in striking contrast to the burned-up plains 

 which lay basking at its foot. 



Resting their backs against the rock (on which, we have 

 said, are now carved the names of many travellers), and 

 defended from the powerful rays of the sun by its precip- 

 itous sides, two white men quietly slept. They were gaunt 

 and lantern-jawed, and clothed in tattered buckskin. Each 

 held a rifle across his knees, but strange sight in this 

 country one had its pan thrown open, which was rust- 

 eaten and contained no priming ; the other's hammer was 

 without a flint. Their faces were as if covered with ma- 

 hogany-coloured parchment ; their eyes were sunken ; and 

 as their jaws fell listlessly on their breasts, their cheeks 

 were hollow, with the bones nearly protruding from the 

 skin. One was in the prime of manhood, with handsome 

 features ; the other, considerably past middle age, was 

 stark and stern. Months of dire privation had brought 

 them to this pass. The elder of the two was Killbuck, of 

 mountain fame ; the other was hight La Bonte. 



The former opened his eyes, and saw the buffalo feeding 



