Page:Rocky Mountain life.djvu/277

 iron twice spoke the death-word, and at the same time; then with his pipe-stem he bade a third one go to the Spirit Land; and, as he drew forth his butcher-knife to shoot me, I had fled beyond reach, that I might tell you how to escape! Haste, ye! flee! It is the Big Medicine that comes from yon! Flee, lest he kill us all!"

Following his advice, the astonished savages immediately fled with the greatest consternation, fully persuaded it was their only mode of escaping from certain destruction at the hands of the BIG MEDICINE!

fall of snow having occurred meanwhile, and the grass, even yet, in many places, is green and fresh.

Notwithstanding the lateness of the season, we anticipate but little difficulty in crossing the mountains, via New Park and Grand river pass, as the journey has been performed on several occasions in the dead of winter. But, a further stimulant to our hopes is the possession of good mules and horses, which are every way competent to the task before them; my two companions are, also, intimately acquainted with the mountains, and well know how to shape our course to advantage.

For the first few days our progress was rapid and uninterrupted. Following the regular trail by way of Bear river, on the 24th we struck Black's fork, a considerable tributary of Green river, and one of several in its neighborhood, down which we continued to its confluence with the main stream; thence, crossing to the east bank, we kept its general course, sometimes by its valley, then again by long detours among the hills, owing to the rugged nature of the country, and in three days subsequent, reached the Yampah, or Little Snake, an affluent from the left.

The intermediate country from Fort Hall to the Yampah has been partially noticed in connection with Oregon and California, and for that reason it will not be expected of me to waste time in repetition.

I need only add, that among the hills we noticed much nude sterility, intermingled with frequent clusters of absinthe, aretmisia (or greasewood, as it is familiarly called,) and bunch-grass, with occasional groves of pine, cedar, and balsam.

In the valleys the grass was yet green, and indicated the presence of winter only by its withered tops. Snow was seen only upon the hills and mountains, and even there in no great quantity. Game appeared plentiful for most of the distance, particularly black-tailed deer and sheep.

The section of country hereabouts is inhabited by the Snake Indians, from whom the river above referred to derives its name.

This stream heads in the New Park Mountains, and pursues a southwest course for about one hundred miles, receiving in that distance several large tributaries from the east, when it finally discharges itself into Green river, near lat. 41° North.

Crossing the Yampah, we soon struck the Elk Head, or Little Bear, a principal affluent from the right, and continuing our course up its valley. After passing a small ridge, on the 30th Nov., we found ourselves upon the head waters of the Platte.