WESTERN INCIDENTS.

Arrangements were also made with Colonel Mizner by
General Dodge, for an escort of twenty infantry, ten of
whom were to be mounted; this precaution being deemed
prudent, if not absolutely necessary, on account of the
late depredations of the Indians in the vicinity of the
route by which we proposed to return.

EASTWARD BOUND.

All preparations being perfected, we bade our friends
at the Fort adieu, at an early hour on Friday morning, and
started on our backward course. The weather was now,
and had during the past few days, been perfectly delight-
ful. The sun, perhaps a little too hot during mid-day,
had blistered our ears and noses somewhat; but the soft,
balmy air of the Plains tended to elevate our spirits; and
the hazy, dreamy state of the atmosphere, rendered the
dissolving views of the distant mountains truly enchant-
ing. Our road for several miles was the same which we
had previously followed to the Fort.

DEATH OF THE ELK.

On reaching a point some six miles from the Fort, in
the vicinity of a beautiful lake, we were electrified by the
appearance of a very large and beautiful Elk-Stag upon
the verge of the lake; and apparently transfixed to the
spot by some mysterious and fatal power which he could
not control. Several shots were fired almost simultane-
ously, and after staggering a few rods he fell. When we
reached the noble animal, life was extinct.

Modesty, while it will not justify any material departure
from truth, always forbids the historian of any great
achievement from arrogating to himself peculiar prowess,