The trail led for the most part through valleys or along the
sides of hills, and was generally not far from level, though
there was, of course, a constant though hardly perceptible rise
as we got farther into the mountains. We camped at noon at Elk
Creek, and made further progress at drying our household effects.
We pressed on during the afternoon, and passed through the town
of Sturgis, where we laid in some stores of provisions to take
the place of those spoiled by the water, and also a quantity of
horse-feed. Later we congratulated ourselves on our good-luck in
doing this.
As the afternoon wore away we found ourselves getting up
above the timber-line. The mountains began to shut in our view in
all directions, and the valleys were narrowing. As night drew
nearer, Jack said:
"Seems to me it's about time we got to this Thunder Butte
Creek. 'Gene said that if we passed Sturgis we'd have to go on to
that if we wanted water."
We soon met a man, and inquired of him the distance to the
desired stream. "Two miles," he replied, promptly.
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