t very little during the
previous days. They began to labour under serious apprehensions. The
appetite of thirst became stronger than that of hunger--its cravings
more difficult to be endured.

Guided by the buffalo-tracks, they rode gloomily on, in the midst of a
white cloud that enveloped them throughout all that fearful journey.
They had no difficulty in following the trail. The heavy dust showed
where the drove had passed; and every here and there great circular
hollows showed where the buffaloes had "wallowed." The hope that these
animals, guided by their usual instincts, had gone in the direction of
water, to some degree sustained our travellers in their onward struggle.

The shades of evening were closing over the earth, and the alabaster
hills were assuming an ashy blue colour, when the little cavalcade
emerged from the dusty ravines of gypsum, and once more trod the green
prairie. The country before them was still rolling, but they kept on
along the well marked trail--their animals stepping more freely, as if
inspired with new hope at the change which had taken place upon the
surface. There was something in the appearance of the landscape ahead
that led to the belief that water was not far distant; and, sure enough,
it was not; for, on mounting the crest of a prairie-swell, over which
ran the buffalo-trail, a small rivulet was espied in the glen below. At
the sight, Jeanette, as well as the three horses, pricked up their ears;
and, making an effort to trot, were soon at the bottom of the hill, and
up to their knees in the water.

It was fortunate for them that it proved a freshwater stream. Had it
been a salt one--and such are very common in the neighbourhood of these
gypsum formations--they could never have gone farther. They would all
have perished upon its banks.

But it was fresh water--cool and fresh--and our travellers first drank
of it, and then bathed themselves in its flood, until they had washed
their bodies free from the annoying gypsum dust. After this they set
about making some arrangements for their night bivouac.

The copious draughts of water, which all of them had taken, in some
measure relieved them from the painful sensations of hunger they had
experienced; and they began to consider whether they might not be able
to give Jeanette a respite--at least until the morning. While
deliberating upon this, they noticed that Marengo had strayed away from
them. They looked around, wond