CHAPTER, FOUR 
JOURNEY FROM THE KANZAS TO 
THE PLATTE—THE ELK— 
THE ANTELOPE 
E turned from the Ka River on our left, 
W and took a more northwesterly direc- 
tion. We passed two more villages of 
the Kas, built in the same way, and de- 
serted, as were the others. The weath- 
er heretofore had been very favorable, 
but from now on we had frequent thunderstorms, 
alternating with a keen north wind. Our baggage 
was often so soaked that we had to sleep in wet 
blankets, and get up in the morning as from a cold 
bath. Nevertheless, we all continued in health. The 
country through which we go is still the same rolling, 
treeless prairie, wearying to the beholder’s eye. Now 
that we are penetrating deeper into the country, we 
observe more caution than hitherto. At evening we 
form our camp in a square; at night we tie our ani- 
mals in its midst; and regularly mount guard. On 
May 14th we came to the Rush River; on the 19th 
