Their March Was Slow And Toilsome; Part Of The Time Through An
Alluvial Bottom, Thickly Grown With Cotton-Wood, Hawthorn, And
Willows, And Part Of The Time Over Rough Hills.
Three antelopes
came within shot, but they dared not fire at them, lest the
report of their rifles should betray them to the Blackfeet.
In
the course of the day, they came upon a large horse-track,
apparently about three weeks old, and in the evening encamped on
the banks of a small stream, on a spot which had been the camping
place of this same band.
On the following morning they still observed the Indian track,
but after a time they came to where it separated in every
direction, and was lost. This showed that the band had dispersed
in various hunting parties, and was, in all probability, still in
the neighborhood; it was necessary, therefore, to proceed with
the utmost caution. They kept a vigilant eye as they marched,
upon every height where a scout might be posted, and scanned the
solitary landscapes and the distant ravines, to observe any
column of smoke; but nothing of the kind was to be seen; all was
indescribably stern and lifeless.
Towards evening they came to where there were several hot
springs, strongly impregnated with iron and sulphur, and sending
up a volume of vapor that tainted the surrounding atmosphere, and
might be seen at the distance of a couple of miles.
Near to these they encamped in a deep gully, which afforded some
concealment.
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