63 DEATH IN CAMP. 



strange monument of nature had been erected in honor of the great source 

 of light and heat ! 



Still further to the right, upon the river bank, is another immense pile, 

 exceeding either of the before described in altitude. It is an oblong 

 square, and presents erect lateral walls upon three sides, leaving upon the 

 fourth a gradual acclivity which faces the river. Its summit expands 

 into a beautiful terrace containing an area of several acres, which at the 

 proper season is adorned with herbs, flowers, shrubbery, and grass, like a 

 pleasure garden upon some house-top, and commands a view of the whole 

 country, lending enchantment to the neighboring scenes. Its base is about 

 one mile long by twelve hundred yards wide, and points endwise from the 

 river towards the valley. 



Then comes the continuous wall which bounds the locality upon the 

 ^ right. This likewise presents a level summit, varying from lifteen yards 

 to a half mile in breadth, for a distance of ten miles, when, slowly sinking 

 in its course, it finally becomes lost in the prairie. " 



Covered with grass and shrubs, it is the favorite home of the mountain 

 sheep, where she breeds and rears her young, secure in her inaccessible 

 fastnesses ; and ofttimes from its precipitous edge, at elevations of six or 

 eight hundred feet above the adjacent prairie, will her head and mammoth 

 horns bo seen, peering in wonder upon the rare traveller, as he passes 

 adown the valley. 



The interval between the two mural ridgfes is of uniform width for about 

 ten miles, and is wa.tered by a beautiful stream nearly the whole distance, 

 when it inducts the traveller to the open prairie, — leaving the immense wall 

 which bounded it upon the leftward, at his entrance, transformed to high 

 conical hills, covered with pines, and almost lost to view in the growing 

 space; while that upon his right, diminishing in size, gradually disappears 

 and unites v/ith the far-spreading plain. 



Most of the varieties of wild fruits indigenous to the mountains are 

 found in this vicinity, and also numerous bands of buffalo, elk, deer, sheep, 

 and antelope, with the grizzly bear. 



In the summer months the prospect is most delightful, and afiords to the 

 admiring beholder an Eden of fruits and flowers. No higher encomium 

 could be passed upon it than by employing the homely phrase of one of 

 our voyageurs. In speaking of the varied enchantments of its scenery at 

 that season, he said : " I could die here, then, — certain of being not far from 

 heaven!" 



Before leaving this romantic spot, feelings of gloom and melancho- 

 ly usurped those of pleasing admiration, by the death of one of our 

 number. 



The deceased was on his way to the mountains for the recovery of his 

 health, with a frame fearfully reduced by the ravages of that fell destroyer, 

 consumption. For several days past he had declined rapidly, owing to 

 the weather and the unavoidable exposure incident to our mode of travel- 

 ling. To-day the cold was more than usually severe, and an uncomforta- 

 ble rain and sleet commenced soon after camping. In an attempt to pass 

 from the waggons to the fire, he staggered and fell ; — before any one of 

 us could arrive to his assistance, he had breathed his last. 



