ACKOSS TUB ROCKY MOUNTAINS, ETC. 57 



CHAPTER IV. 



Change in the face of the country — Unpleasant visitation — its effects — J^orth 

 fork of the Platte — .'? day's jotlrriey over the hills — Wormwood bushes, and 

 poor pasture — J\Iarmots — Rattlesnake and gopher — JVatiiralist's success 

 and sacrifices — ^1 sand storm — Jlild ho7-ses — Killing of a doe antelope — Bluffs 

 of the Platte — The chimney — " Zip JCoon," the young antelope — Birds — Feel- 

 ings and cogitations of a Jiaturcdist — Jlrrival at Laramie's fork — Departure 

 of tivo ^^free trappers'" on a summer " hunt" — Black Hills — Rough travel- 

 ling — Red butes — Sweet-water river, and Rock Independence — Avocets — 

 Wind river mountains — Rocky JMountain sheep— Adventure of one of the m^n 

 with a grizzly bear — Rattlesnakes — Toikome march, and arrival at Sandy 

 river — Suffering of the horses — Anticipated delights of the rendezvous. 



On the morning of the 24th of May we forded the Platte river, 

 or rather its south fork, along which we had been travelling 

 during the previous week. On the northern side, we found the 

 country totally different in its aspect. Instead of the extensive 

 and apparently interminable green plains, the monotony of which 

 had become so wearisome to the eye, here was a great sandy 

 waste, without a single green thing to vary and enliven the 

 dreary scene. It was a change, however, and we were therefore 

 enjoying it, and remarking to each other how particularly agreea- 

 ble it was, when we were suddenly assailed by vast swarms of most 

 ferocious little black gnats ; the whole atmosphere seemed crowded 

 with them, and they dashed into our faces, assaulted our eyes, 

 ears, nostrils, and mouths, as though they were determined to 

 bar our passage through their territory. These little creatures 

 were so exceedingly minute that, singly, they were scarcely 



visible ; and yet their sting caused such excessive ; pain, that for 



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