30 WESTERN INCIDENTS.

And we came away from the fair grounds, after witness-
ing one or two trials of speed between a lot of second or
third class trotting horses, impressed with the idea that
this young and unfledged State was bound soon to
take higher rank in the confederacy than some of the
“ Old Thirteen.”

Under the new programme, the trial of the fastest
horses, and riding by the ladies, which we would like much
to have seen, had been postponed to the following week.

FROM DENVER TO LAPORTE,

On the afternoon of Saturday, September 22, we again
left Denver, by Holladay’s Overland Stage Line, for the
scene of our future explorations in the Black Hills, north
and west of Laporte. The light from the stars and wan-
ing moon was barely sufficient to reveal the dim outline
of the ragged sides and crest of the mountain ranges as
we passed within a few miles of their base, and across
Clear, Coal, Boulder, St. Vrain, Little and Big Thomson
and Cache la Poudre Creeks, that flow from the huge
gorges in their sides.

We reached Laporte, a distance of sixty-seven miles
by stage road from Denver, at daybreak on Sunday
morning, and found most comfortable quarters at the
stage-station, kept by Mr. Taylor; and were joined, in
the evening, by General G. M. Dodge, Chief Engineer,
and Mr. James A. Evans, Division Engineer, of the Union
Pacific Railroad.

We were now about to enter in real earnest upon the
rough and adventurous features of our excursion. Gen-
eral Dodge commenced our education by intimating in
the most gentle manner, that we would be expected to
feed, water and clean our saddle-horses during the trip.