Volume 1

3l8
ENTRENCHED CAMP—THE OUTLOOK.
cious objects appeared. Having joined him, he informed
us they were bulls. Bravery instantly appeared on the
countenances of those who, a few moments before, had
given themselves up for lost.
Being still undetermined what course to take, we thought
best to remain on the hill for the night.'* Accordingly, we
collected a quantity of buffalo dung, which we found tolerably
dry on this elevated spot, made a good fire, and
formed a kind of entrenchment around it with our baggage,
saddles, and some large stones. From our camp we had a
delightful prospect. Southward were the steep red banks
of the Missourie, about five leagues distant, beyond which
the land appeared still
to rise in a range of very high blue
hills running E. and W. On the S. W. about three [?]
leagues distant, appeared a range of barren hills, the highest
we had yet seen ; we afterward were informed it
was the banks of the Little Missourie. To the N. W. and
N. the country stretched into a smooth, level plain, with
a number of small lakes, whose white shores beautifully
contrasted with the adjoining verdure. At some distance
beyond these lakes the land appeared to rise into high
hills, covered with large round stones. Eastward there
appeared a level country as far as the eye could reach.
wood was to be seen in any direction, for what there is of
it upon the Missourie stands upon the borders of the river,
below the high banks, and cannot be seen until these are
reached. We determined to keep watch during the night.
Our horses were tied where they had plenty of good grass,
and each of us in our turn went the rounds.
**This camp may be approximately located on the border of Stevens Co.
next to Garfield — possibly further W. still,
of the present Berthold Indian reservation.
No
in Garfield Co., about the boundary
Neither of these counties has been
surveyed, and in fact we know little more of the topographical details of Henry's
present position than we gather from his manuscript. This blank occurs on
the best maps, both civil and military, that we possess. The approximate location
that I venture is inferred partly from the general "south" course since
leaving Mouse r. and the supposed length of a full day's journey, but more
from the statement we have for next day, when, after an hour's travel, the
guide recognized the Snake's Den, then bearing about I2 m. E. S. E.