Volume 1

STAMPEDE—INUNDATION—GROSSE BUTTE. 409
sible until dark, when we stopped for the night, and formed
an entrenchment with our baggage to prevent the buffalo
and horses from running over us. The buffalo dung being
too damp to take fire, we remained in the dark, every
moment in dread of being trampled. About midnight a
large herd of buffalo passed so near some of our horses as
to make them break their cords, and away they went ; but
fortunately their legs were tied.
no purpose ;
the night was too dark.
We pursued them, but to
Aug-, ^t/i. At daybreak we were on the lookout for
comrades
our horses, and found they had returned to their
that were tied near us. We lost no time in loading, during
which several old bulls stood at a short distance to windward,
staring at us with as much unconcern as if they were
common cattle. We took our course north, and soon found
an astonishing quantity of water, which overlaid the plains
more extensively than we had before seen since the commencement
of our journey. Buffalo continued to appear
in every direction around us. At twelve o'clock we came
to the Grosse Butte,* which seemed to be their termination
northward, as we saw only a few straggling bulls ahead
of us. From^ the summit of these hills we could discern
Turtle mountain like
a low, blue cloud due N. from us, distant
about 20 leagues. The hills are partially covered with
short grass ; the greater part being a barren, white sand,
particularly on the S. side, where there
is no verdure whatever.
Upon the N. side, at the foot of the hill, is a beautiful
lake about three leagues in circumference, with a
beach of white gravel and sand. At the S. end, adjoining
the foot of the hill, is a delightful little wood, which runs
' After crossing Mouse r. from S. to N., Henry took first a N. E. and then
a N. course, in McHenry Co.
As this river is running northeastward and then
northward, he is W. of it, and has it on his right hand, at no great distance.
But as he has given no distances on these courses, identification of his Grosse
Butte can only be conjectured. Two of the most conspicuous and isolated elevations
in the region are now known as White Rock hill and Little Medicine
Lodge. The latter is 10 or 12 m. N. E. of the former, which I am inclined
to think may be his Grosse Butte.
>