28 NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY 



would assail us, but no anticipation of reverses could check the 

 happy exuberance of our spirits. 



Our road lay over a vast rolling prairie, with occasional 

 small spots of timber at the distance of several miles apart, 

 and this will no doubt be the complexion of the track for some 

 weeks. 



In the afternoon we crossed the Big Blue river at a shallow 

 ford. Here we saw a number of beautiful yellow-headed 

 troopials, (Icterus zaiithrocephalus,) feeding upon the prairie in 

 company with large flocks of black birds, and like these, they 

 oflen alight upon the backs of our horses. 



29th. — A heavy rain fell all the morning, which had the 

 effect of calming our transports in a great measure, and in 

 the afternoon it was succeeded by a tremendous hail storm. 

 During the rain, our party left the road, and proceeded about a 

 hundred yards from it to a range of bushes, near a stream 

 of water, for the purpose of encamping. We had just arrived 

 here, and had not yet dismounted, when the hail storm com- 

 menced. It came on very suddenly, and the stones, as large as 

 musket balls, dashing upon our horses, created such a panic 

 among them, that they plunged, and kicked, and many of them 

 threw their loads, and fled wildly over the plain. They were all 

 overtaken, however, and as the storm was not of long duration, 

 they were soon appeased, and staked for the night. 



To stake or fasten a horse for the night, he is provided with 

 a strong leathern halter, with an iron ring attached to the chin 

 strap. To this ring, a rope of hemp or plaited leather, twenty- 

 two feet in length, is attached, and the opposite end of the line 

 made fast with several clove hitches around an oak or hickofy 

 pin, two and a half feet long. The top of this pin or stake is 

 ringed with iron to prevent its being bruised, and it is then 

 driven to the head in the ground. For greater security, hopples 

 made of stout leather are buckled around the fore legs ; and then, 



