10 WlTCHITA MOUNTAINS. 



CHAPTER II. 



WlTCHITA MOUNTAINS — PANTHER KILLED — BUFFALO TRACKS — SINGULAR AND UNAC- 

 COUNTABLE RISE OF WATER — BUFFALO SIGNS — HORSE CAPTURED — RAINS 



ARRITAL AT OTTER CREEK — BAROMETER BROKE — CHARACTER OF WlTCHITA 

 MOUNTAINS — BUFFALO KILLED — HIGH WATER. 



Soon after we had reached the high prairie ridge upon which we 

 travelled to-day, we came in sight of the Witchita mountains, some 

 twenty-five or thirty miles to the north, the chain seeming to be made 

 up of a series of detached peaks, running from the northeast to the 

 southwest, as far as the eye can reach. Rising as these mountains do 

 upon the naked prairie, isolated from all other surrounding eminences, 

 they form a very striking and prominent feature in the topography of 

 the country. We cannot yet form any definite estimate as to their 

 height, but shall avail ourselves of the first opportunity to determine this 

 point. 



May 17. — On rising this morning, I learned, much to my surprise, 

 that nearly all our oxen had wandered off during the night, and had 

 not yet been found. I immediately sent seven of the teamsters in 

 search of them ; but after being absent two hours, they returned unsuc- 

 cessful, reporting that they could get no track of them. I then started 

 with one of our Delawares, and, after going a short distance from camp, 

 took the track, and following it about a mile, came up with the animals, 

 who had very quietly ensconced themselves in a grove of timber near the 

 creek. 



As they had upon several occasions before given us trouble, and 

 occasioned the loss of much time, I resolved that in future I would have 

 them herded until late in the evening, and tie them to the wagons for 

 the remainder of the night. 



As we did not march until very late this morning, we only made 

 eleven miles, and encamped upon one of the branches of Cache creek. 



Our road has continued upon the high ridge lying between Red river 

 and Cache creek, and has been perfectly firm, smooth, and level. 



We have to-day seen the first buffalo tracks. They were made 

 during the last rains, and are about five days old. We are anxiously 

 awaiting the time when we shall see the animals themselves, and antici- 

 pate much sport. 



