» QUIET CAMP. 41 
the question. “Five mile,” was his reply. Forty dollars 
were then offered, but still, though it staggered him a, good 
deal, he persisted i in declining, as rather than walk five miles, 
he would forego the opportunity of selling his pony at so 
greatly an increased rate. 
On reaching the creek, we found it too high to ford, and so 
encamped in a beautiful grove on the slope of the prairie, and 
a beautiful quiet evening we had, when the first clear moon 
for some nights, rose to hallow the peaceful scene below, the 
white tents, and the white covers of the wagons, peeping out 
from among the trees, the camp fires blazing, and the cattle 
feeding upon the green sward around us. We felt the 
soothing influence of the scene, after the rough times of the 
past week, and retired to our grassy couches with calmer 
thoughts for the morrow, 
