40 ELDORADO 



Fortunately for us the runaways went in the direc- 

 tion of our wagons, and by early morning- they were 

 all gathered in without loss. A few discharges from 

 our revolvers had the tendency to frighten away the 

 Indians. 



From this point to Independence Rock, where the 

 Sweetwater river joins the north fork of the Platte 

 a distance of fifty miles, the country had a desolate ap- 

 pearance. No game was seen, except now and then a 

 half-starved jackral)bit flitting through the stunted 

 sage brush. On these bare and dreary plains that in- 

 teresting rodent, the prairie dog, finds a congenial 

 home. They live in towns laid out with considerable 

 regularity with well traveled streets and avenues, and it 

 is a curious and funny sight when approaching one of 

 their little cities to see them playing and gamboling 

 like so many kittens, and upon any unusual noise, in- 

 stead of disappearing, those in their houses or burrows 

 will instantly appear, and all will stand perfectly erect 

 and still, gazing at the intruder. They are about the 

 size of the common gray squirrel, and are not easily 

 frightened. Several attempts were made by our boys 

 to capture one, but without avail. Several were shot 

 but they would either fall into their holes, or be drag- 

 ged in by their comrades. These little towns abound 

 along the Platte, and extend to the Sweetwater 

 river. In riding after buffalo and other game, great 

 caution was necessary to avoid these underground bur- 

 rowings, as they might prove serious both to man and 

 beast. 



This is the region of extensive alkali beds and pois- 

 onous grass. In certain places the ground was covered 

 with a white crustation of saleratus, caused by the 



