KANSAS. 
*84 
would seem to be on the very height of the land, prairies stretch- 
ing in all directions, noble forests marking the line of the rivers 
and creeks, while the mounds far away in the distance formed a 
complete amphitheatre. 
At another time we would be passing rapidly into what seemed 
to be the cultivated grounds of some private mansion, over a 
smooth lawn, where the tall oaks and walnuts were grouped in 
admirable arrangement, and with such artistic beauty, in many 
places, that it was difficult to realize that art had done nothing 
here, but nature all. At one or two places we passed ledges, 
where, upon the highest points, the stones were laid up in walls 
as regularly as if laid by stone-masons. There were deep ravines 
also, to be crossed, which test the strength of one’s nerves some¬ 
what. These are skirted with graceful trees, while the water in 
their pebbly beds is limpid and clear. Just beyond one of these, 
with the green branches interwoven above us to shut out the sun¬ 
beams, we rested, and dined as best we might on crackers and 
apples, which an acquaintance gave us, who was baiting his horse 
at the same spot, while ours nibbled his grass with a most satis¬ 
fied look at the base of a tree. A large emigrant wagon was 
broken down near us, and their exertions to right matters for 
the rest of the journey, as well as their gypsy-like appearance in 
camp, added not a little to the interest of the half hour. The 
friend we had overtaken would be our co-traveller the rest of the 
way. Our afternoon’s ride was similar to that of the morning, 
with the exception of more company. 
The stage, filled with young men, settlers just arrived, overtook 
us in the afternoon, and was sometimes ahead of us, and some¬ 
times in the rear, and the loud tones of the cheerful horn, fre¬ 
quently blown, awakened the musical echoes from prairie and 
dell. The prairie seemed higher, and for many miles at some 
points our vision was uninterrupted. A few isolated Indian huts 
were passed occasionally, and a grave of an Indian warrior, with 
the skull of his horse and dog still lying upon it. These were to 
accompany him in the hunting grounds of the Great Spirit. We 
reached the Wakarusa as the golden sunlight was fading, fast fad¬ 
ing, for we have no twilight here, no mountains behind which the 
