Chapter 25 - Page 2

accompanied by one of his men, crawled cautiously up a height,

from which he could overlook the scene of danger. Here, with a

spy-glass, he reconnoitred the surrounding country, but not a

lodge nor fire, not a man, horse, nor dog, was to be discovered;

in short, the smoke which had caused such alarm proved to be the

vapor from several warm, or rather hot springs of considerable

magnitude, pouring forth streams in every direction over a bottom

of white clay. One of the springs was about twenty-five yards in

diameter, and so deep that the water was of a bright green color.

They were now advancing diagonally upon the chain of Wind River

Mountains, which lay between them and Green River valley. To

coast round their southern points would be a wide circuit;

whereas, could they force their way through them, they might

proceed in a straight line. The mountains were lofty, with snowy

peaks and cragged sides; it was hoped, however, that some

practicable defile might be found. They attempted, accordingly,

to penetrate the mountains by following up one of the branches of

the Popo Agie, but soon found themselves in the midst of

stupendous crags and precipices that barred all progress.

Retracing their steps, and falling back upon the river, they

consulted where to make another attempt. They were too close

beneath the mountains to scan them generally, but they now

recollected having noticed, from the plain, a beautiful slope

rising, at an angle of about thirty degrees, and apparently

without any break, until it reached the snowy region. Seeking

this gentle acclivity, they began to ascend it with alacrity,

trusting to find at the top one of those elevated plains which

prevail among the Rocky Mountains. The slope was covered with

coarse gravel, interspersed with plates of freestone. They

attained the summit with some toil, but found, instead of a

level, or rather undulating plain, that they were on the brink of

a deep and precipitous ravine, from the bottom of which rose a

second slope, similar to the one they had just ascended. Down

into this profound ravine they made their way by a rugged path,

or rather fissure of the rocks, and then labored up the second

slope. They gained the summit only to find themselves on another

ravine, and now perceived that this vast mountain, which had

presented such a sloping and even side to the distant beholder on

the plain, was shagged by frightful precipices, and seamed with

longitudinal chasms, deep and dangerous.

In one of these wild dells they passed the night, and slept

soundly