36 FEOM FORT KEARNY TO FORT LARAMIE. 



to follow still further the main road, which soon led us up one of 

 those points of heavy sand-bluffs which here put down directly to 

 the river, being cut up in the most fantastic manner by precipitous, 

 wide, and abrupt ravines of white sand. Keeping back of the 

 heads of these, we again turned down to the river, and halted to 

 noon on the bank of the Platte. To-day, buffalo were seen from 

 the road, for the first time, feeding in large detached herds, scat- 

 tered over the prairies like huge droves of cattle. The sight, to 

 those of us who had never beheld these animals, was exceedingly 

 interesting, and reminded me of the herds I had seen spread for 

 miles over the lovely and fertile valley of Mad River, in Ohio. 

 There must have been several thousands within our view, grazing in 

 peaceful security. The effect upon our hunters, and, in fact, upon 

 the whole party, was that of sudden and most intense excitement, 

 and a yearning, feverish desire to secure as much as possible of 

 this noble game. Archambault, the guide, had started early in the 

 morning for the bluffs to hunt, taking with him another man, both 

 mounted. About two o'clock they returned, loaded down with the 

 choice pieces of three fat cows, which they had killed. After we 

 had advanced a mile on the afternoon's march, a large band of 

 these animals was discovered directly ahead and near the road. 

 The opportunity was too tempting to be resisted. There was no 

 prospect of getting buffalo above, as they were evidently travelling 

 south ; and I determined therefore, to remain where we were during 

 this and the following day, and to send out and secure as much 

 meat as possible before crossing the South Fork. A halt was acr 

 cordingly made at once, the hunters sent forward, and the afternoon 

 occupied in drying the meat brought in during the morning. Our 

 men, however, failed in approaching the great herd before they 

 took the alarm and vanished. The result of to-day's work, never- 

 theless, was five killed, of which four were secured and brought 

 into camp. On the succeeding day three more were killed. The 

 flesh thus obtained was forthwith cut into thin strips, dried over a 

 fire on a willow frame, and packed into sacks for future use. 



Saturday, June 30. — Th'er. at sunrise, 61° ; Bar. 27.03 ; with 

 heavy fog. The road, all the morning, continued at the foot of 

 the gently sloping bluff of the Platte, with a wide level bottom, 

 the uniformity of its surface unbroken by a single bush. A large 

 island was passed, of about six miles in length, by two and a-half 

 in width, level as a floor, with here and there a clump or grove of 

 timber on either margin. A small herd of buffalo was descried in 



