Chapter IV

Change in the face of the country--Unpleasant visitation--N.
fork of the Platte--A day's journey over the hills--Poor
pasture--Marmots--Rattlesnake and gopher--Naturalist's
success and sacrifices--A sand storm--Wild horses--Killing
of a doe antelope--Bluffs--The Chimney--"Zip Koon," the
young antelope--Birds--Feelings and cogitations of a
naturalist--Laramie's fork--Departure of two "free trappers"
on a summer "hunt"--Black hills--Red butes--Sweet-water
river, and Rock Independence--Avocets--Wind river mountains--
Rocky Mountain sheep--Adventure with a grizzly bear--
Rattlesnakes--Toilsome march, and arrival at Sandy river--
Suffering of the horses--Anticipated delights of the
rendezvous, 173