--so
called on account of their flat, table-like tops. They are generally
argillaceous, and are common upon the Upper Missouri river, and
throughout the vast desert regions that lie west of the Del Norte.
Sometimes several of them stand near each other upon the plains, looking
as though their tops had once been the level of the ancient surface, and
the ground between had been worn away by disintegration--from rain and
other causes--leaving them thus standing. To the eye of one accustomed
to looking only upon rounded hills, or mountains with sharp peaks, these
elevated "mesas" appear very singular, and form an interesting study for
the geologist.

The top of the one beside which our adventurers halted, had a
superficial area of some twenty or thirty acres; and its perpendicular
sides rose nearly two hundred feet above the surrounding prairie. A
thin growth of pine-trees covered it; while stunted pinons and cedars
hung out from its cliffs. There were agaves, and yucca palms, and
cacti, growing along its edges, giving it a very picturesque appearance.

Our travellers, after halting, and having satisfied their thirst, of
course thought of nothing but remaining there to recruit both themselves
and their animals. They saw around them the three requisites of a
camp--water, wood, and grass. They commenced by cutting down some
pinon-trees that grew by the foot of the cliff. With these a bright
fire was soon made. They had still enough bear's meat left to last them
for several days. What more wanted they? But they discovered that even
in this arid region Nature had planted trees and vegetables to sustain
life. The pinons afforded their farinaceous cones, the agave yielded
its esculent roots, and the prairie-turnip grew upon the borders of the
runlet. They saw a small plant with white lily-like flowers. It was
the "sego" of the Indians (_Calochortus luteus_), and they knew that at
its roots grew tubers, as large as filberts, and delicious eating when
cooked. Lucien recognised all these edible productions; and promised
his brothers a luxurious dinner on the morrow. For that night, all
three were too much fatigued and sleepy to be nice about their
appetites. The juicy bear's meat, to travellers, thirsty and hungry as
they, needed no seasoning to make it palatable. So they washed
themselves clear of the dust, ate their frugal meal, and stretched
themselves out for a long night's rest.

And a capital night's rest t