A DAY ON THE PLAINS. 41 



passes monotonously along. The western sun, as it nears the 

 horizon, blinds us with its rays ; but as this is an indication 

 that the period of night camp is approaching, we can tolerate 

 it. We anxiously watch the lead team, to see it turn from 

 its course and start the corral. When this comes, how glad 

 we are, and one after the other twenty-six wagons are formed 

 in a protecting circle. And now, all being in readiness, the 

 command " unyoke " is given, and in five minutes three 

 hundred oxen are loosened and, under charge of the night 

 guard, taken to water and grass. The men in camp now pre- 

 pare for supper. The rations of flour, pork and coffee are got 

 from the cook's wagon, but no sugar, as that has been wasted 

 or stolen to trade to the Indians. The cook begins to mix his 

 flour and water into dough and manipulate the other raw 

 provender; a detail, unwilling albeit, having started off for 

 wood and water. Sometimes the men are so tired that rather 

 then make the exertions necessary to supper, they eat raw 

 meat, or remnants of the day's dinner, and wearily crawl into 

 their beds. 



The wood was generally green and a fire difficult to make. 

 To bake bread we needed live coals to put on our Dutch oven^ 

 when that was too much trouble, we would fry dough in the- 

 salty drippings of bacon — a scurvy' dish. Sometimes we- 

 would have flapjacks. To turn these required a dexterous 

 twist of the long- handled skillet, whereby the cake could be 

 turned and landed right side up without touching it. The 

 acme of perfection in making this product was for the cook to 

 throw up the "jack" and run around the wagon and catch it 

 — the "jack " — as it came down. I never saw this done. The 

 water was sometimes carried, or " packed," a quarter of a 

 mile. I did not know what to make of the word " pack " at 

 first. My initial job was to help brand cattle at Fort Leaven- 

 worth, where I was told to " pack " the red hot irons from the 

 furnace to the " brander." I thought I was to pack the irons 

 3 



