Ex. Doc. No. 41. 421 



and never allow their courage to be damped, or their cheerfulness 

 clouded by the difficulties with which they may be surrounded. 



Although he had never driven before, yet he at once threw him- 

 self into the saddle of the wheel mule and toot the reins. Twice 

 the mules ran off with the wagon, and, notwithstanding Pilka was 

 obliged to throw himself out of the saddle, he at length succeeded 

 in subduing them. I had now recovered my health sufficiently to 

 walk down a flight of steps unaided, and I rejoiced with great joy 

 to find myself gaining strength so rapidly. 



Mr. Holt Dresented mp witli n >>pmi + fnl cti'^ r.e r. ,^ 



) 



Icf 



He informed me that 



the wild cat frequently attacks the oxen, springing upon their backs' 

 or chest, and wounding them terribly with its sharp claws. The 

 wounds thus produced are extremely poisonous. Great inflamation 

 and swelling of the injured parts ensue, and often the oxen die, 

 although the wounds may be but skin deep. On the other hand, 

 the wounds made by the wolves heal rapidly, although the ox may 

 have its hams so much torn to pieces that one would think its re-' 

 covery impossible. Whenever any one of the cattle raised at this 

 place has wandered off, and is attacked by either of the above men- 

 tioned" beasts of prey, it bellovvs loudly for help, and the rest of 

 the herd always rush to the rescue. In the winter season the 

 wolves become extremely bold, and will attack any animal they 

 may meet alone upon the prairies, with the exception of man. 



On the 28th of August we had an arrival of from 40 to 50 com- 

 missary wagons. The teamsters crowded into the " patio," and 

 from thence commenced a minute scrutiny of every object around" 

 them, greatly to our annoyance, and unfavorable to their character 

 for politeness. To-day " Nah-co-mense," or " Old Bark," a chief- 

 of the Cheyennes, and one of my last year's friends, entered my 



' ^room. He appeared delighted to meet with me again, and sorry to 

 see me looking so emaciated. After regarding me for a short time 



V m silence, _ he placed his hand upon his heart and fluttered hi? 

 fingers rapidly to intimate that my pulse had been beating with th^ 

 high excitement of fever. As I was glad to meet with him, F 



treated him to some hard bread and to some molasses and water. 



During the morning Captain Walker sent me some fine venison, 

 but what delighted me exceedingly was the promise I received from 

 the hunter who brought it, that he would procure me skins of the 

 three different varieties of ground squirrels that are to be had int 

 this part of the countrjj also that of the prairie dog; for although 

 the last mentioned animal is well known, yet the skins are rarely 

 to be met with in cabinets of Zoology. When shot with the rifle, 

 the skin is too badly injured to be preserved. 



There were some men encamped near the fort who procured 6 

 or 6 prairie dogs by pouring water into their burrows until the ani- 

 mals were driven out. They soon became perfectly tame, and were 

 earned into the settlement by their owners a few days before I 

 heard of the circumstance. 



^lugusf 29. — Doctor Hempstead, one of the residents here, made 

 made me a present of a number of minerals which he had collected. 



