L'EAU-QUI-COURT.-REMARKS. 109 



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 di-eary 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 fortli 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 Ungered — 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 tlie trader. (What water?) 



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



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

 the night 



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

 covered with snow. A lire 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 hearty supper served to appease the appetites so keenly sharpened by 

 a toilsome journey of thirty miles, occupying from sunrise tiU 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 suffering! 

 in the welcome embrace of sleep. 



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

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

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

 Council Bluffi 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 ti»e lake 

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

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



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

 almost ai all seasons of tlie year. From the commencement of fall to the 

 reiy close of spring, it is subject to frost and snow; — for what caoi^ 

 10 



