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Show 242 VALLEY OF THff NORTH FORE OF THE PLATTE. feet of those who were dearest to our hearts. Often have I experienced the same feeling, when, in the dark and solemn forest, I have sat by my solitary camp- fire on the bank of some . murmuring stream. The waters seemed a connecting link with human beings, however distant; and as 1 thought whither they would flow, I felt myself not so utterly alone. None but those who have experienced it, know Aw much companionship there is in the gentle murmur of a flowing stream. Such were now our. sensations as with light hearts and buoyants spirits we galloped down the grassy slope. Before us lay an undulating country, descending gently toward the. east; beyond, in the distance, frowned the Medicine- bow Butte, at the foot of which flowed thfe waters of the Platte, while to the southward of this famous headland stretched far away the Park Mountains, whence issue so many tributaries to the Pacific. From this important summit we commenced a scarcely perceptible descent into a wide grassy hollow, forming the Valley of a- now dry rivulet, which, in the spring, discharges its waters into Sage Creek, an affluent of the North Fork of the Platte. Two miles east of the " divide," we halted to take a noon observation for latitude, which placed us in 41° 83' 22". 3, the computed longitude being 107° 80' 48". Grass and water Were scarce, and the growth of artemisia very thick, making it somewhat difficult to pass our little wagon over it. Near the mouth of this little stream we crossed over to another, heading near to it, and running parallel with it, upon the banks of which we encamped, after a deeply interesting march of nearly twenty- two miles. From what has been seen Bince crossing the summit, I am satisfied that it would have been better had we kept more to the southward before crossing it. If, leaving the ridge forming the southern boundary of the valley, we had followed either the stream upon which we are now encamped, or even the* valley of another, some miles still farther south, we would not only have somewhat shortened our route, but obtained a greater abundance of grass, wood, and water, from a high ridge which bounds all these little streams on the south. Observations gave for latitude of the camp 41° 85' 41"; longitude 107* 21' 52"., Distance from Fort Bridger, two hundred and seven miles. With the exception of the rough ground bear the head of the Muddy, which offers no obstruction of consequence, a perfectly feasible, and indeed a most excellent route, whether for a |
