The doctor thanked me for the pleasure our morning ride had afforded
him, and asked, “Can we not make up a party to climb Elk Mountain after
breakfast?”
“I hope so. I will ask some of the young people.”
About ten o’clock a few of us commenced the climb. Lyde Walker, Nellie
Bower, Cash and Neelie, Sim Buford, Brother Hillhouse, Dr. Howard and
myself. We were well paid for the effort; we found beautiful wild
flowers, and some wild strawberries not five feet from a snow-bank. The
snow is in a ravine on the north side where the sun does not shine. The
berries and flowers are on the bank of the ravine, high enough to catch
the rays of the sun, facing the south. The view was fine; we could see
a large white lake far away to the west. Dr. Howard said it was alkali.
* * * * *
Wednesday, July 19.
We passed the alkali lake this afternoon. It was a strangely beautiful
sight--the water as white as milk, the grass on the border intensely
green. I always thought grass would not grow where there is alkali,
but it is certainly growing there; the contrast of white and green was
vivid. The wind was blowing the water into little glittering, dancing
skipping wavelets; the sight was so unusual that it was fascinating,
though the water is so dreadfully poisonous.
There are several musicians in the McMahan train; Lyde says they
serenaded me last night. She says they stood between our two wagons. I
think she is trying to tease me.
“Ask Dr. Howard, if you do not believe me. He was one of them.”
“Oh, no. I would be ashamed to acknowledge I did not hear them, and
would feel like a dunce if they had not been there.”
Dr. Howard gave me the bouquet he gathered on Elk Mountain, which was
most beautifully arranged, and asked me “To keep it until it falls to
dust.” I have put it between the leaves of a book and will perhaps
never think of it again.
We came through Fort Halleck to-day. There were eight wigwams, or
teepees, at the east end of the town; the squaws wore calico dresses
and hoops. I believe they were more comical-looking than in their
blankets. I fail as yet to recognize “The noble red man.” They are
anything else than dignified; they seem lazy, dirty, obnoxious-looking
creatures.
Cash and I made a few purchases at Fort Halleck. I paid eighty cents
for a quire of writing paper, and Cash paid fifty cents for a can of
peaches. Mrs. Morrison is on the sick-list to-day, and Delia Kerfoot
has a very sore mouth--scurvy, the doctor says, caused by the alkali in
the dust and air. Neelie and Frank are both complaining.