Expedition^ Ssfc. 20f 



hills of the opposite shore. A fine male antelope was shot by 

 Lieutenant Swift, and a skunk was also added to our stock 

 of provisions. Distance twenty-five miles. 



f-Zth. Passed over a very wide bottom, of which the soil 

 where not too sandy, produces a most luxuriant growth of 

 grasses and other plants, but the river is still in a great mea- 

 sure destitute of trees, of which we passed but three, during 

 the morning's riJe, and not a bush over the height of about 

 two and a half feet, being a few willows and barren plum 

 bushes. We were again gratified with the appearance of the 

 prairie foivl^ running nimbly before us through the grass, 

 the first we have seen since leaving the Platte. The bisons 

 have now very much diminished in number; we passed 

 unheeded, within a few yards of a young bull, whose glazed 

 eye, and panting respiration, showed the operation of some 

 malady, and it was curious to observe, that though he stood 

 erect and firmly on his legs, the wolves which fled on our 

 approach, were acquainted with his defenceless condition, 

 and surrounded him in considerable numbers, awaiting his 

 dissolution, and probably watching their opportunity to ac- 

 celerate it. 



The afternoon was calm, and the mercury at its greatest 

 elevation, stood at 99 degrees. Soon after our departure 

 from our resting place of noon, we observed a large herd of 

 bisons on our left, running with their utmost rapidity towards 

 us, from the distant bluffs. This was a sufHcient warning to 

 put us on our guard against another unwelcome war party. 

 Looking attentively over the surface of the country in that 

 direction, a mounted Indian was at length observed to oc- 

 cupy an elevated swell of the surface, at the distance of a 

 mile or two from us. Our peace flag was as usual, immedi- 

 ately displayed, to let him know that we were white people, 

 and to induce him to come to us, whilst we halted to wait 

 for him. Assured by this pacific display, he approached a 

 short distance but again halted, as if doubting our intentions. 



