was stunned and fell off
alongside the horse. It now seemed as though both he and his horse would
be drowned, as all the other stock began to press close up to them. He
soon recovered, however, and as he partially pulled himself on to his
horse, we could plainly see that his face and breast were covered with
blood. We shouted at him words of encouragement, cheering him from both
sides of the river. While his struggling form was hanging to the horse's
mane, the other animals all floundered about him, pulling for the shore
for dear life. The men on the other side were ready to catch him as he
landed, nearly exhausted by his struggles and the blow he had received.
They carried him up the bank and leaned him against a tree, one man
taking care of him while the others caught the animals, or rather
corralled them, until the rest of us got across and went to their
assistance. We brought the young man's clothes with us and fixed him up,
washing him and stanching his bleeding nose and mouth. He had an awful
looking face; his eyes were blackened, nose flattened and mouth cut.
However, he soon revived and was helped by a couple of the men down to
the wagons. We then gathered the stock, went down to the train, hitched
up, and drove into camp.
We now soon came to the Sweetwater River. The country here is more hilly
and rocky, and the valleys narrower and more barren. The main range of
Wind River Mountains could be plainly seen in the distance, while close
upon our left were the Sweetwater Mountains. The difference in scenery
after leaving the river and plains was such as to awaken new emotions
and fire one with a new kind of admiration. The immensity and fixedness
of the mountains awakened a keener sense of stability, of firmness of
purpose, and a sort of _expect great things and do great things spirit_;
while the sense of beauty appreciation was in no wise narrowed as it
followed the lights and shades of jut and crevice, and the rosy,
scintillating bits of sun as a new day dropped them with leisure hand
upon summit and sides, or later the tender glow of crimson and blue and
gold, as the gathered sun-bits trailed themselves behind the mountains
for the night.
When making up our outfit back in the States, by oversight or want of
knowledge of what we would need, we had neglected to lay in a supply of
horse-nails, which we now began to be sorely in need of, as the horses'
shoes were fast wearing out and becoming loose. It was just h
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