A FIGHT WITH THE SIOUX. 169 



We remained at tliis place the two following- days, for the purpose of 

 hunting-. Game of all kinds appeared in great abundance, particularly 

 elk. At several points among the willows near the river were noticed 

 fresh signs of beaver, and among the hills the recent marks of bear in 

 digging for roots. 



A large bird called the mountain fowl, quite common to these parts, was 

 the occasion of some little curiosity, being the first of its species I ever 

 saw. This bird is rather larger than our domestic hen, and of a grayish 

 brown color. Little accustomed to the presence of man, it easily falls a 

 prey to the hunter, its flesh is tender and most excellent in flavor. 



Having obtained a fresh supply of meat, we resumed our course. 



Continuing up the right b-mk of the creek (which I have named Medi- 

 cine Bow, for lack of a better term) and travelling by easy stages four 

 successive days, we arrived at its head, — a distance of more than fifty 

 miles above its junction with the Platte. 



Many beautiful bottoms skirted the banks of this stream, which were 

 well timbered with cotton wood, aspen, birch, willow, box-elder, and some 

 few pines. The soil is generally of a reddish loam, and the luxuriant size of 

 the dead grass, together with the rank verdure of the present season, gave 

 evidence of its richness and fecundity. 



I was pleased to observe not a few wild flowers, of rare beauty, in full 

 bloom, lending their fragrance to the breath of spring, and blushing at the 

 admiration challenged by their loveliness. 



On the right lay a broad expanse of undulating prairie, covered with 

 stately clusters of absintlie, and disclosing every variety of soil, from the 

 rude sterility of an African desert to the rich productiveness of a garden ;— 

 on the left, the mountains, increasing in altitude, jutted their craggy sides 

 in close p^ximity to the creek — now disclosing immense piles of granite, 

 with red argillaceous, grayish micaceous, dark ferruginous, and white 

 calcareous sandstone, limestone, and coarse-grained conglomerates, naked 

 and variegated with almost every diversity of color, — and now, surmounted 

 by stunted pines and cedars, or towering balsam, hemlock and pinion ; 

 and in front, the lofty peaks of Medicine Bow, rearing tlieir snowy heads 

 beyond the clouds, opposed an eternal barrier to further prospect. 



As we passed along, I noticed three or four small branches that emptied 

 into the creek from the opposite side, and, just before reaching our present 

 encampm.ent, we crossed three others from the right, all of them well tim- 

 bered and graced by rich valleys and prairillons. 



This section of country, being the great war-ground between the Sioux 

 and Chyennes on the one side, and the Snakes and Crows on the other, is 

 considered dangerous, particularly from May till November of each year. 

 During that time it is extremely unsafe for a white man to venture within 

 its confines, unless protected by a strong force. 



A sm.all creek at our right, became the scene of a bloody tragedy two 

 months subsequent to our visit. 



Three trappers, with whom I became acquainted upon my return to the 

 Fort, tempted by the abundance of fur-bearing game common to the 

 vicinity, came here for the purpose of miking a summer hunt. While 

 successfully pursuing their occupation, unsuspicious of immediate danger, 



15 



