=3.= A dust cloud deepened down the dwindling river;
=4.= Upon the distant tree-tops ran a shiver etc.
Note the pictures suggested in “dust cloud deepened,” “upon the
distant tree-tops ran a shiver,” “huddle thickets writhed,”
“green gloom gapes,” “mill and wrangle in a turbid flow.”
=13.= Bound for the winter pastures of the Platte!
The Platte was an especially fine bison country.
=17.= The lopped moon weltered in the dust-bleared East.
How long since Hugh began his journey?
=18.= Sleep came and gave a Barmecidal feast.
In the Arabian Nights one of the Barmecides, a wealthy family,
served a beggar a pretended feast on beautiful dishes that were
empty.
=19.= About a merry flame were simmering etc.
The appeal to the sense of hunger is powerful. Compare Vergil,
Æneid, Book I, 210–215.
=21.= And tender tongues that never tasted snow,
Why “never tasted snow”?