CAMP. 83 



A set of grassy slopes of a mile or more in length, 

 debouching into the river bottom by a valley from a 

 quarter of a mile to a mile in width, without a mark 

 of any waterway, appeared so innocent that the em- 

 bankment across its mouth would be supplied with a 

 culvert of only a couple of feet. A waterspout bursts, 

 the ravines are flooded, the embankment acts as a dam, 

 the water rises over it, cuts it away, and the road is 

 ruined, for a mile or more. 



I have seen one such instance where the force of the 

 water having broken the connection, the track, ties bound 

 together with the rails, was swung off the break by the 

 power of the current until the loose ends finally rested 

 nearly a quarter of a mile from their proper position. 



Fortunately these storms are restricted in area, but 

 unfortunately their disastrous effects are not confined to 

 the vicinity of their occurrence. The flood moves on, 

 carrying trouble, delay, suffering, and loss of life on its 

 surged waters until they are finally lost in some one of 

 the great rivers of the plains. 



With the cloud in view, and the storm approaching, 

 it is easy to be on the alert, to arrange, or if necessary to 

 move camp, and to place the party in a position of safety 

 and comparative comfort. But the most careful plains- 

 man cannot always be prepared for ' thunder from a 

 clear sky,' nor arrange for a flood when not a cloud is to 

 be seen. Besides this, these storms are very exceptional. 

 Possibly every portion of the high plains may be visited 

 by one or more each year ; but a party may be out for 

 weeks in the worst season namely, June and July 

 camping on the streams with perfect impunity, never 

 seeing a cloud or being troubled with the rush of water. 

 This tends to carelessness, which sooner or later will 

 probably meet its reward, if not in actual loss, at least in 

 a thorough ; drowning out.' 



I have been in six or eight storms well worthy the 

 name of ' waterspouts,' but in all my plains experience 



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