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Show 34 THROUGH THE BLACK HILLS. crossed the renowned Alps a few years ago witnessed a sight more grand and magnificent. Far away to the South and Southeast were the snow- clad mountains that attracted our attention for days before reaching the Black Hills. Their tallest peaks only were visible to us then, but now I beheld the whole majestic range with summits as white with snow as in January, and shining under the rays of a noon- day sun in the month of June. The Black Hills upon which I stood extended from a point not far removed from the moun tains to which I have just referred, in a northerly, and then changing their course to a westerly direction, making with the mountains a somewhat irregular triangular shape. Long distances separated the two ranges, it is true, but these spaces were not to be seen from where I stood, and the mountains appear to completely surround a basin which is the wide extended Laramie Plain. From my stand point the ground below appeared to be as level as an Illinois prairie, and for many miles could be seen the road over which we were to travel, looking like a narrow Indian trail through the green prairie grass. The Big Lar amie River rising in the Medicine Bow Mountains was ever winding through the plain in its course towards the North Platte ; and far beyond the Black Hills to the north east loomed up the solitary but lofty Laramie Peak. Look which way I might, the grandest prospect met my gaze ; but that part of the scene which most absorbed my atten tion was the elevated glistening summits of the snowy moun tains to the south. What a sight for a landscape painter ! The view had its inspiring effect upon the soldiers as well as upon myself. Marching in the hot sun up a long hill had caused a perfect silence in the ranks, which may always be noticed when the men are fatigued, but as they reached the brow of the hill, and beheld what I have endeavored to describe they seemed to be invigorated with new life, and the loud hum of conversation extended along the whole column. It was not a scene to inspire enthusiasm, but pro found and subdued wonder and admiration. Not until I started to descend did I realize the elevation |