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Show THROUGH THE BLACK HILLS. 31 whatever had occurred. So thick was the hail that large quantities of it lay on the ground until sunrise the next morning. CHAPTER V. THROUGH THE BLACK HILLS. As we marched westward along Lodge Pole Creek the Black Hills in which the stream rises came in view; but at the same time appeared a grander sight, the snow- clad sum mits of the Medicine Bow Mountains looming up conspic uously away to the southwest. They were the first moun tains covered with perennial snow that I had seen, and after gazing at them for a long time I began to doubt their reality, thinking it possible in this country of strange freaks of nature a white cloud hanging about the horizon might assume the appearance of the object before me. But an other day's march, and a clearer atmosphere, made the out lines of Long's Peak, which has an elevation of 14,000 feet above the sea, as well as the summit of the adjacent range so distinct that no question could then arise as to their true character. All doubts being settled as to what we saw, the officers then commenced estimating the dis tance that separated the mountains from us, and their esti mates varied from 30 to 60 miles; but a two days' journey somewhat in their direction when they were still apparently as far away as when first observed, as well as a reference to my map, told me to conclude that the highest estimate should have been increased at least one half to get the real distance. On most of the popular maps, this spur of the Rocky Mountains is styled the Meridian Ridge, or the Meridian Bow Ridge, but on the topographical charts of the army, it is put down as I have written it, and is so called by the |