Little Bighead 109 



before. Mr. Anderson had to walk by 

 Brindle's side, and lead her, as she refused 

 to be driven. 



They now forded the Missouri River, and 

 for four weeks journeyed westward into the 

 state of Kansas where the gently undulating 

 prairies, traversed by many creeks and riv- 

 ers, greatly pleased Mr. Anderson. 



One evening just at sunset they came 

 upon a small stream flowing down from 

 the north. This river was perhaps one 

 hundred feet across, and along its banks 

 stretched a beautiful meadow about a mile 

 wide. 



This meadow-land was not undulating 

 like the prairie, but was made land which 

 the wash of the river had smoothed and 

 enriched. The beaver also had done his 

 part in producing the meadows, as the re- 

 mains of some old beaver dams testified. 



Mr. Anderson's eye was at once taken 

 with the spot. He saw at a glance that the 



