Expedition to the Bad Lands 91 



ahead would be heard to strike the earth far below. 

 Then we had to turn and climb back through the 

 deep dust to the top, and circling a canyon, plunge 

 down on the other side. 



Once we got down to the river four miles from 

 the prairie, and thought that our journey was over, 

 as we could see the lights of the station just across 

 the river. But when we had watered our thirsty 

 horses and started down for the landing, we found 

 our way blocked by a huge ridge with a towering 

 precipice impinging on the river; and we had to 

 drag ourselves back over those four long, hard 

 miles to the prairie, and start again. I freely con- 

 fess that I should have been willing to lie down in 

 the dust just where I was, and let the horses look 

 out for themselves, but Cope's indomitable will 

 could not be conquered. Back we climbed to the 

 top, and down we went into the next ravine. 



I have never known another man who would have 

 attempted this journey. It was both foolhardy and 

 useless, but we could say that we accomplished what 

 no one else ever had in reaching Cow Island through 

 the Bad Lands after dark. 



For we did reach it. Just before daylight we got 

 down to the landing across from the station, and 

 sure enough, the steamboat was at her post. But 

 another disappointment was in store for us. The 

 Professor shouted to the sergeant to come and take 



