Rooky Mount a in Trip 
could be seen but barren plains, with low lines of bluffs. 
Telegraph poles, prairie dogs, antelope and a few R. H. stations, 
desolate ranches and cattle. At Sydney the bluffs come close 
tip to the town. There is a military post south of the station. 
This is said to be one point of departure for the Black Hills. 
Aug. 9th : Arrived at Cheyenne at noon. Time from Wash¬ 
ington 3 days 7 hours - the shortest time yet. Found Wilson 
and Steve Hovey waiting for us and expecting Stevenson and oth¬ 
ers. Gamp is at Davis 1 Ranch, 12 miles out. Averything appears 
to be in order for starting. Remained one day at the R. R. House 
Had a couple-of games of ten pins with Stove in the evening. 
Aug, 10th : The eastern train brought in Gannett, Coues, 
Atkinson, Reading and Cuthbert. Reached camp before 6 o'clock. 
The ranch is a rude group of low log and adobe houses, with the 
usual stables and corrals attached. It is east of the E.R. to 
Denver and is situated in a grass covered but treeless flat, 
which is surrounded by low smc mesas and buttes. Camp is 
just back of the house. A good spring near by supplies ^Tater. 
i 
Aug. 11th : went fossil hunting with Davis and Harry. 
Ten miles to the east we procured a number of bonesp had a hot 
ugly ride. 
-lug. I2th : Went Antelope hunting with Harry. Rode S or 
7 miles over the smooth mesas before sighting game. From a 
point oi the mesa we overlooked a broad smooth valley. On a 
li.uA.-L in this valley and fully a mile away wo could discern a 
smaj-1 herd ^ 11 or 12) of antelope. In order to reach them un¬ 
observed vie made a circuit to the south and after 3 or 4- miles 
ride were approaching them from the east under cover of a low 
