valley.  At about six miles from our camp we crossed a spur of the mountain which came down boldly to the river, and from the top we had a beautiful view of the valley stretched out below us, the stream fringed with a thin bordering of trees, the foot hills rising into a level plateau covered with rich bunch grass, and towering above all, the snow-covered summits of the distant mountains rising majestically, seemingly just out of the plateau, though they were many miles away.  Above us the valley opened out wide, and from the overlooking rock on which we stood we could see the long train of pack horses winding their way along the narrow trail, the whole presenting a picturesque scene.  The rock on which we stood was a coarse conglomerate, or pudding stone.

Five miles farther on we crossed a small stream bordered with black cherry trees, many of the smaller ones broken down by bears, of which animal we found many signs.  One mile farther on we made our camp about a mile below the middle canon.  To-night we have antelope, rabbit, duck, grouse and the finest of large trout for supper.  As I write, General Washburn, Hedges and Hauser are engaged in an animated discussion of the differences between France and Germany, and the probabilities of the outcome of the war.  The three gentlemen are not agreed in determining where the responsibility for the trouble lies, and I fear that I will have to check their profanity.  However, neither Washburn nor Hedges swears.

Thursday, August 25.—­Last night was very cold, the thermometer marking 40 degrees at 8 o’clock a.m.  At one mile of travel we came to the middle canon, which we passed on a very narrow trail running over a high spur of the mountain overlooking the river, which at this point is forced through a narrow gorge, surging and boiling and tumbling over the rocks, the water having a dark green color.  After passing the canon we again left the valley, passing over the mountain, on the top of which at an elevation of several hundred feet above the river is a beautiful lake.  Descending the mountain again, we entered the valley, which here is about one and a half to two miles wide.  At nineteen miles from our morning camp we came to Gardiner’s river, at the mouth of which we camped.  We are near the southern boundary of Montana, and still in the limestone and granite formations.  Mr. Everts came into camp just at night, nearly recovered, but very tired from his long and tedious ride over a rugged road, making our two days’ travel in one.  We passed to-day a singular formation which we named “The Devil’s Slide,” From the top of the mountain to the valley, a distance of about 800 feet, the trap rock projected from 75 to 125 feet, the intermediate layers of friable rock having been washed out.  The trap formation is about twenty-five feet wide, and covered with stunted pine trees.  Opposite our camp is a high drift formation of granite boulders, gravel and clay.  The boulders are the regular gray Quincy granite,