The others yielded to their remonstrances, and somewhat ashamed of their
cowardice, concluded to advance at least as far as Laramie fork, eastward
of which they were aware no danger was to be apprehended. Notwithstanding
the confusion and excitement, we were very early on the road, as the days
were extremely hot, and we were anxious to profit by the freshness of the
morning. The soft marly formation, over which we were now journeying,
frequently offers to the traveler views of remarkable and picturesque
beauty. To several of these localities, where the winds and the rain have
worked the bluffs into curious shapes, the voyageurs have given names
according to some fancied resemblance. One of these, called the _Court-
house_, we passed about six miles from our encampment of last night,
and towards noon came in sight of the celebrated _Chimney rock_. It
looks, at this distance of about thirty miles, like what it is called--the
long chimney of a steam factory establishment, or a shot tower in
Baltimore. Nothing occurred to interrupt the quiet of the day, and we
encamped on the river, after a march of twenty-four miles. Buffalo had
become very scarce, and but one cow had been killed, of which the meat had
been cut into thin slices, and hung around the carts to dry.

"10th.--We continued along the same fine plainly beaten road, which the
smooth surface of the country afforded us, for a distance of six hundred
and thirty miles, from the frontiers of Missouri to the Laramie fork. In
the course of the day we met some whites, who were following along in the
train of Mr. Bridger; and, after a day's journey of twenty-four miles,
encamped about sunset at the Chimney rock. It consists of marl and earthy
limestone, and the weather is rapidly diminishing its height, which is not
more than two hundred feet above the river. Travelers who visited it some
years since, placed its height at upwards of 500 feet.

"11th.--The valley of the North fork is of a variable breadth, from one to