110 WILD SCENES. 



On the disappearance of the cause of alarm, they are the first to com- 

 municate the pleasing intelUgence, and soon the reassured community again 

 betake themselves to their business and sports. 



The prairie-owl and rattlesnake maintain friendly relations with these 

 inoffensive villagers, and not unfrequently the three heterogeneous associates 

 occupy the same subterranean appartments ; — a strange companionship of 

 birds, beasts, and reptiles ! 



The prairie dog is extremely tenacious of life, and can seldom be killed 

 with a rifle, unless by a brain-shot ; and then, even, it is difficult to secure 

 him, as his companions will immediately convey the carcase into their holes 

 beyond reach. 



The flesh of these animals is tender and quite palatable, and their oil 

 superior in fineness, and absence from all grosser ingredients, to that of 

 any other known animals ; it is highly valued as a medicine in certain 

 cases. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



The Creek valley. — Tlie Platte as a mountain stream. — Canon. — Romantic prospect. 

 — Comical bear story. — Perilous encounter with a wounded bull. — Geological re- 

 marlis. — Division of party. — Safety of spring travel. — La Bonte's creek.— Remarks 

 by tlie way.— Service-berry. — Deer Creek. — General observations.— Moccasin mak- 

 ing.— Box-elder.— Bear killed.— Excellence of its flesh.— Different kmds of bears in 

 Oregon and the mountains. — The grizzly bear, his nature and habits. 



Horse -SHOE creek is a stream of considerable size, that traces its way 

 through a broad valley of rich alluvion, well timbered with cottonwood and 

 box-elder, and aflxjrding all the usual varieties of mountain fruit. The 

 grass of the preceding year's growth was quite rank and stout, giving 

 evidence of a fertile soil. 



Resuming our course, we again bore towards the river with the design 

 of crossing, and, after a few hours' ride came to its banks, through a broad 

 opening between two ridges of hills that communicated with it from the 

 high prairies and table lands upon the left. 



Here, however, fording was impracticable, the stream being too hio-h and 

 the current swift. '^ 



The Platte of the mountains retains scarcely one characteristic of the 

 river with which the- reader has hitherto become so familiarized. It is now 

 confined to a bed of rock and gravel, not exceeding two hundred yards in 

 width, and is of unwonted clearness and transparency. Its banks are 

 Bteep, and the attrition of high waters discloses a deep vegetable mould in 

 their vicinity, favorable to the growth of grain or other produce. 



A small bottom of rich sandy loam upon the opposite side lay at the base 

 of a high ridge of table lands, which presented its rugged sides of red- 



