Chapter 5 and 6 Summary

Continuing, they approach the high plains. They stop for fuel at Hague and inquire about places to cross the Missouri River between Bismarck and Mobridge, only to learn that no such places exist. They decide to head south the 90 miles to Mobridge on a bad road. They rest at Herried, where the Narrator senses a change having to do with the thoughtless use of space in the town, calling it a Western town and intending no compliment thereby. At Mobridge, they cross the river and start out through reservation land. During this part of the ride, the Narrator describes John's way of seeing things as they are as opposed to what they mean and asserts that this is an important Chautauqua point. To illustrate this point, he relates how he had once tried to use a part of a beer can...