Rocky Mountains. 481 



towards the wind, eager to escape from the terrifying scent, 

 they pushed forward in an oblique direction towards our 

 party, and plunging into the river they swam and waded, 

 and ran with the utmost violence, in several instances break- 

 ing through our line of march, which was immediately along 

 the left bank of the Platte. One of the party perceiving from 

 the direction taken by the bull, that preceded the extended 

 column of his companions, that he intended to emerge from 

 the low river bottom, at a particular point, where the preci- 

 pitous bank was worn by much travelling, into a deep notch, 

 urged his horse rapidly forward to gain this station, that he 

 might have a near view of these interesting animals; he bad 

 no sooner arrived at this point, than the formidable leader, 

 bounding up the steep, gained the summit of the bank, with 

 his fore feet, and in this position abruptly halted from his 

 full career, and glared fiercely at the horse, which now oc- 

 cupied his path. The horse, trembling violently from fear of 

 this sudden apparition, would have wheeled and exerted his 

 utmost speed, had he not been restrained by the greatest 

 strength of his rider; he recoiled however a few feet, and 

 sunk down upon his hams. The bull halted but a moment, 

 then being urged forward by the irresistible impulse of the 

 moving column behind, rushed onward by the half sitting 

 horse. The multitude came swiftly on, crowding up the nar- 

 row defile. The party had now arrived, and extending along 

 a considerable distance, the bisons ran in a confused manner 

 in various directions to gain the distant bluffs; numbers were 

 compelled to pass through our line of march, between the 

 horses. This scene added to the plunging and roaring in the 

 river of those that were yet crossing, produced a grand ef- 

 fect, which was still heightened, by the fire opened upon 

 them by our hunters. As they ascended the bank, innumer- 

 able opportunities offered of selecting and killing the fattest, 

 and it was with difficulty, we restrained our hunters from 

 slaughtering many more than we needed- 

 vol. i. 61 



