L'EAU-QUI-COURT.— REMARKS. 75 



by still deepening layers, covered with a thick crust, scarcely strong enough 

 to bear our weight, but quite sufficient to wrench and jar us at every step, 

 and make our advance threefold tiresome. 



The cold was so intense, we were forced to walk to keep from freezing. 

 Our difficulties thickened the farther we progressed. Night closed in upon 

 us, and we could no longer distinguish our course. Yet we kept on, in 

 hopes of reaching some creek or spring where we might await the coming 

 day. 



Slowly, onward, — plunge, plunge, at every step ; — now prostrate at full 

 length upon the hard crust, and then again staggering in resistless mimicry 

 of drunken men. 



The chill winds sweeping over the dreary expanse pierced us through at 

 each whiff, and seemed to penetrate every nerve, and joint, and muscle, as 

 if to transform our hearts' blood into icicles. But still it was plunge, plunge 

 along ; onward, plunge, fall ; but yet onward ! There is no stopping place 

 here, — 'tis push on or die ! 



Thus, travelling for three or four hours, not knowing whither, we came 

 finally to the leeward of a high hill. The agreeable change produced by 

 the absence of wind, called forth a hearty response. " Camp, ho," was 

 echoed upon all sides. But here was no water for ourselves or our animals. 

 We must yet go on. Still we lingered — loath to leave the favored spot. 

 The Indian, who had been absent for a brief space, now came up, shout- 

 ing : 



" Mine, washtasta !" (Water, very good !) 



" Tarkoo mine ?" asked the trader. (What water ?) 



" Mine-loosa. Tunga warkpollo." (Running-water. A large creek.) 



It proved L'eau-qui-court, the stream upon which we had intended to pass 

 the night. 



Pushing on, a few moments brought us to its banks, in a deep valley 

 covered with snow. A fire was then promptly built from a small quantity 

 of wood we had the precaution to take with us from Rawhide, and all 

 hands were soon as comfortably conditioned as circumstances would admit. 



A heart)'- supper served to appease the appetites so keenly sharpened by 

 a toilsome journey of thirty miles, occupying from sunrise till ten o'clock 

 at night. This over, each one cleared for himself a place upon the frozen 

 ground, and, spreading down his bed, quickly forgot his cares and sufferings 

 in the welcome embrace of sleep. 



L'eau-qui-court, or Running-water, heads in a small lake under the base 

 of the first range of Black Hills, and, following an easternly course, empties 

 into the Missouri, about one hundred and fifty or two hundred miles above 

 Council Bluff. It derives its name from the rapidity of its current, which 

 rolls over a pebbly bed with great velocity. 



At this place it is narrow and deep, with steep banks, and not a stick of 

 timber is to be found on it, above or below, for twenty miles. At the lake 

 where it heads, there is an abundance of timber ; large groves of cotton- 

 wood are also found at some distance below our present camp. 



The intermediate country, from Rawhide, is a cold and cheerless expanse 

 almost at all seasons of the year. From the commencement of fall to the 

 very close of spring, it is subject to frost and snow ; — for what cause, 



