unfinished, being enclosed with walls (or rather houses) on three of the
sides, and open on the fourth to the river. A few hundred yards brought us
in view of the post of the American Fur Company, called Fort John, or
Laramie. This was a large post having more the air of military
construction than the fort at the mouth of the river. It is on the left
bank, on a rising ground some twenty-five feet above the water; and its
lofty walls, whitewashed and picketed, with the large bastions at the
angles, gave it quite an imposing appearance in the uncertain light of
evening. A cluster of lodges, which the language told us belonged to Sioux
Indians, was pitched under the walls; and, with the fine background of the
Black hills and the prominent peak of Laramie mountain, strongly drawn in
the clear light of the western sky, where the sun had already set, the
whole formed at the moment a strikingly beautiful picture. From the
company at St. Louis I had letters for Mr. Boudeau, the gentleman in
charge of the post, by whom I was received with great hospitality and an
efficient kindness, which was invaluable to me during my stay in the
country. I found our people encamped on the bank, a short distance above
the fort. All were well; and, in the enjoyment of a bountiful supper,
which coffee and bread made luxurious to us, we soon forgot the fatigues
of the last ten days.

16th.--I found that, during my absence, the situation of affairs had
undergone some change; and the usual quiet and somewhat monotonous
regularity of the camp had given place to excitement and alarm. The
circumstances which occasioned this change will be found narrated in the
following extract from the journal of Mr. Preuss, which commences with the
day of our separation on the South fork of the Platte:

"6th.--We crossed the plateau or highland between the two forks in about
six hours. I let my horse go as slow as he liked, to indemnify us both for