220 The American Naturalist. [March, 
bows before great drops of rain began to pelt us. In amoment 
the rain fairly poured down, and we were alternately blinded 
and deafened by the sharp crackling lightning and the heavy 
claps of thunder. 
If our ribby horses had needed a whip before, they now set 
off most willingly before the storm. Soon we found ourselves at 
the edge of the bluff bordering the Niobrara Valley on the 
north. The valley presented a fine spectacle in the storm. It 
is not wide, not more than a mile. On the opposite side we 
could see the steep high bordering hills, and near them the 
small stream winding through the nearly level valley. By its 
side the log house of James Cook and his spacious red barns 
appeared through the misty veil. This was the Agate Springs 
ranch, whither we had been requested to come to see the giant 
corkscrews with tree-like tops. Down the declivity before us 
we went with tightened brakes, which were now and then ren- 
dered nearly useless by the slipperiness of the road. We 
finally reached the level below without mishap, and a little 
later pulled up before the friendly shelter of the red barns. 
Shortly after our arrival the rain ceased and we found our- 
selves in the presence of Mrs. Cook. 
Mr. Cook was absent, but during that evening and that of 
the day following we were most agreeably entertained by Mrs. 
Cook and Mr. Cook, her brother-in-law. There could have 
been no greater surprise for us than this finding of so much 
eastern comfort and refinement so far away from the railroad 
and civilization. During our entire stay we were most hos- 
pitably entertained. 
The valley afforded very different scenery from what we had 
met with farther north. On the south high steep hills rose 
up from the valley, on the north were high bluffs. Back 
through these northern bluffs numerous narrow cafions had 
been cut in times long passed. In none of them was there 
found a spring or a drop of water. The floor was level and 
covered with grass. The walls often rose up by a series of 
great steps which were not infrequently covered with vegeta- 
tion so that they presented a line of green against the light 
colored perpendicular walls. On top of some of the bluffs 
