174 yj 64 
_ the edge of alittle thicket, two or three hundred feet from our E-ancalits: 
ment. e were posted in a grove cf beech, on the margin of the lake, 
and a few hundred feet long, with a narrow prairilion on the inner side, 
bordered by thé rocky ridge. In the upper end of this grove we cleared a 
circular space about forty feet in diameter, faba: with the felled timber and 
interwoven branches, surrounded it with a breast work five feet in height. 
A gap was left for a gate on the inner side, by which the animals were 
to be driven in and secured, while the men slept around the little work. | 
It was half hidden. by the, foliage ; and, garrisoned y twelve resolute 
men, would have set at defiance any band of savages which might chance 
to discover they in the interval of our absence. Fifteen of the best 
mules, with fourteen men, were selected for the mountain party. Our pro- 
visions consisted of dried meat for two days, with our little stock of coffee 
and some angers In addition to the barometer and a thermometer, I 
took with me a sextant and spy glass, and we had of course our compasses. 
In charge of ie camp I left Bernier, one ra my most trustworthy men, 
bie possessed the most determined courag 
August 12 eck d, in the morning we Tet the Picsy, fifteen in number, 
well armed, of course, and mouited on our best mules. A pack animal 
carried our provisions, with a coffee pot and-kettle, and three or four tin 
cups. Every man had a blanket strapped over his saddle, to serve for his 
bed, and the instruments were carrieq. by turns on their backs, 
tered directly on rough and rocky ground ; and, just after ‘crossing the 
"ridge, had the good fortune to shoot an antel ope. We heard the roar, and 
had a glimpse of a waterfall as we rode along; and, crossing in our way 
“two fine streams, tributary to the Colorado, in about: two hours’ ride we 
‘reached the top of the first row or range of the monats Here, again, 
a view of the most romantic beauty. met our eyes. It seemed as if, from 
.. the vast expanse of uninteresting prairie we had passed ret, Nature had 
collected all her beauties together in one chosen place. We were over- 
looking a deep valley » which was entirely occupied by three lakes, and 
from the brink the surrounding ridges rose precipitously five hundred and 
a thousand feet, covered With the dark green of thalibeticen pine, relieved 
of the border of the lake with.the light foliage of the aspen. They all 
communicated with each other; and the green : of the waters, common to” © 
mountain lakes of great depth, showed that it would be im mpossible to 
cross them, The surprise manifested by our.guides when these impassable \ 
barred progress proved that the isan she ~ 
margin to the southern extre: ae: ! lar frag- 
of rock sometimes afforded ath way for our mules, but 
Lb at sad serene uP, ata 
‘odor of the pines; and 
of breathing that mountain 
