THE BRAVE BEAR. 



Oct. 24//i. About noon we crossed Gonneville's creek, a large easterly 

 affluent of the Platte. This stream also derives its name from a trapper, 

 killed near it in an Indian fight, some eight years since. 



Upon the south bank of Gonneville's creek, ten or twelve miles from the 

 river, is a singular natural formation, known as the Court House, or 

 McFarlan's Castle, on account of its fancied resemblance to such a struc- 

 ture. It rises in an abrupt quadrangular form, to a height of three or 

 four hundred feet, and covers an area of two hundred yards in length by 

 one hundred and fifty broad. Occupying a perfectly level site in an open 

 prairie, it stands as the proud palace of Solitude, amid her boundless do- 

 mains. 



Its position commands a view of the country for forty miles around, and 

 meets the eye of the traveller for several successive days, in journeying 

 up the Platte. We have been in sight of it for three days, and even now 

 seem no nearer than at first, notwithstandfng our course, meanwhile, has 

 borne not far from a direct line towards it. 



Here, for the first time, I remarked the deceptivcncss of distances, on 

 the high prairies and in regions adjacent to the mountains. Sometimes an 

 object will appear as if within a mile, at most, which cannot be reached 

 short of fifteen or twenty miles ; then, again, objects will seem to be much 

 further off than they really are. 



I attribute this, in part, to three several causes : — First, the variable state 

 of the atmosphere, in regard to density. Second, the absence or plenitude 

 of humid exhalations and effluviae in the air of different regions. Third, 

 the peculiar locality of some places in regard to the reception of the sun's 

 rays. 



In passing from Gonneville's creek to Fort Platte, we encountered no 

 more buffalo, — these animals having been driven back into the high prairies 

 by bands of strolling Indians. 



If the prospect had hitherto been lonesome, it now seemed threefold 

 lonely. The hard-beaten footpaths that had furrowed the bottoms and 

 plains, in all directions, ever since our first entrance to the buffalo range, 

 were still seen ; but, unhonored by tlie presence and unmarked by the foot- 

 prints of their whilom travellers, they looked like the once oft-trodden 

 streets of some deserted city. 



Late in the afternoon we were joined by two engages from Fort Platte, 

 whose object it was to hasten our advance. Soon after, we entered upon 

 a stretch of burnt prairie, and were compelled to travel till daylight tlie 

 next morning, before a sufficiency of grass could be found for a camping 

 place. 



Oct. 2bth. Resuming our course about midday, we had proceeded only 

 a few miles, when a mounted Indian appeared upon the opposite bank of 

 the river, and accosted us : 



" Chay, cullo !— Hanno chaum-pa-monet ha Mena-huska tour ?" (Tell 

 me, friend ! — Are those the Long-knife's* waggons ?) 



* This term seems to call for a word of explanation. Our company was designatefl 

 by the Indians as the Long-knife, or American company,— a term by wliich a. I 



