422 WALL STREET AND THE WILDS 



month," and Ward and I were seized with a 

 simultaneous impulse to stretch our legs and view 

 the scenery from the road. 



At Fort Washakie we introduced ourselves to 

 the officer in command, never doubting that a let- 

 ter from General Sheridan had preceded and 

 vouched for us. We were hospitably received 

 and entertained and the courtesy of the officers 

 concealed the fact that no letter from the Gen- 

 eral had been received. 



An early ceremony of our reception was tak- 

 ing us two miles to a hot spring for a bath. The 

 pool was circular in form, of a depth unknown to 

 me and about a hundred yards in diameter. It 

 was entered by a series of steps, each of which was 

 a new torture, for the water was unendurably hot. 

 I had not the fortitude to swim many strokes and 

 in a very few minutes decided that I had been 

 boiled long enough to remove the accumulations 

 of even that stage ride. 



Through the kindness of our hosts we were 

 soon properly outfitted with broncos, stores, and 

 two guides, a Menominee half-breed and the 



