Page:Route Across the Rocky Mountains with a Description of Oregon and California.djvu/32

 wounded one in the middle—which, as he stood, was about eight feet high—with the blood streaming from his mouth and down his side, snuffing the air on every side, to catch some tainted breath of us; but the wind was ours, and being blind with rage and pain, he did not discover us. Our companion became dreadfully frightened, so that he lost all reason, and commenced running around his horse, and exclaiming loudly, “Oh Lord! what shall we do?" We told told him to mount; but he still continued running around his horse, bawling at the top of his voice: “Good God Almighty! What shall we do?” “Mount! Mount!” said we again; but he paid no attention, and was making about the twentieth trip around his horse, crying aloud, “Oh Lord!” “Oh Lord!" at every step, when we gave a loud whoop, and the two Bears that were not wounded wheeled and ran off, and the wounded one tumbled back down the hill. This set our partner a little to rights, and turning to us, with a look of most perfect simplicity, he exclaimed, in a half weeping tone, “Good God! We can't fight them three Bears.” You were frightened, were you not?” said we. “Ono, no, not bad scared,” said he, “but stop—stop—look here,” he continued, “May such another beautiful roar as that we just now heard, be my music from this on, if you ever catch me in a bear fight again,” he added, shaking his head.

Having finished charging our rifles, and dispatching the wounded animal, we proceeded towards the gap, traveling until late in the night: when one of the mules throwing off and scattering its load, obliged us to encamp. The next morning we set out again, at the dawn of day, and soon reached the gap; which we found to be a deep break, extending entirely through the Mountain, and about two hundred yards wide. In passing through the gap, we came to several fine looking springs bursting out from the base of the Mountain; and dismounting to drink, we found them to be strong of Sulphur, and upon examining more closely, we saw the little cave out of which the largest one ran, in a stream about equal to the size of a man's arm, was entirely covered with a thick coat of crystalized Sulphur. The water was cold, slightly acid, and very pleasant. The country around is romantic, affords all the different varieties of game common in the Mountains, and would, we think, be an excellent resort for invalids, and persons of weak and disordered constitutions. The trip, the pure Mountain air, and the rough and wholesome manner of living, have already restored many who were before feeble and afflicted; to health, strength, and