STORM ON THE PRAIRIE. 25 



other, from time to time, on the road. The last we saw of him 

 was on the Sweetwater, engaged in sawing his wagon into two 

 parts, for the purpose of converting it into two carts, and in dispos- 

 ing of every thing he could sell or give away, to lighten his load. 



(Enothera, with its bright yellow flowers, was frequent in the 

 landscape, both to-day and yesterday, with Amorpha and Artemi- 

 sia. The prairie-rose is becoming quite abundant. 



Near Wyeth's Creek, a section showed the upper rocks, near the 

 top of a ridge, to consist of dark ferruginous sandstone, under 

 which were white clayey shales, the soil being formed principally 

 by decomposed sandstone. 



After travelling twenty-six miles, we encamped on the level bank 

 of Walnut Creek — a tributary of the Little Blue, with a tolerable 

 supply of grass and water. Near this encampment, a small section 

 showed the formation to consist of red sandstone, apparently hori- 

 zontal, very friable, and containing traces of organic remains, but 

 none recognisable. Under the sandstone were traces of shale, 

 light-coloured and very sandy. Black iron-ore was discovered in 

 the sandstone. 



Wednesday^ June 13. — About two o'clock in the morning, the 

 camp was suddenly aroused by the bursting upon it of a most fu- 

 rious storm. The wind blew a hurricane, the rain fell in torrents, 

 while the thunder and lightning were terrible and incessant. For- 

 tunately the camp had been pitched in a sheltered spot, or it must 

 have been entirely blown away by the tempest: as it was, the 

 tents were prostrated by the wind, and preserved with much dif- 

 ficulty. Our men were exposed to all its fury for several hours. 

 At length, however, the sky partially cleared, but the lowering 

 enemy seemed still to linger, as if meditating another attack. The 

 morning proved exceedingly hot and close ; the barometer con- 

 tinued to fall. Our poor mules having been picketed within the 

 lines all night, and consequently exposed to the storm, seemed 

 dejected, tired, and hollow; and altogether the camp seemed 

 weary and dispirited. The weather looked so very doubtful that 

 we did not move until half-past two o'clock ; the men being until 

 then engaged in drying their bedding, which had been thoroughly 

 soaked by the rain. An immense number of black beetles and 

 other insects swarmed around the camp last evening. Attracted 

 by the light, they annoyed us beyond measure, and could be heard 

 all night, pattering against the tents like large drops of rain in a 

 heavy shower. 



