We are camped on unique claylike soil that glows white and blue. The
             texture of the clay indicates that the buffalo had trampled here recently,
             and the ridges and bumps make it difficult for the horses to navigate
             without stumbling. We decided to take this opportunity to improve our axes
             by replacing their handles and sharpening their blades. With these new
             tools, we managed to quickly and easily chop down a few large trees with
             which to build canoes. Each tree formed one large canoe: they would be a
             decent twenty-eight feet long and between 16 and 18 inches deep. These are
             to be the canoes used for a side trip carried out by one of our party. They
             will travel and navigate the rivers here and endeavor to gain the favor of
             Our stock of horses are exhausted, tired from all their work, their
             muscles obviously sore because they seem cranky, reluctant to move, and
             testy. We need to take better care of them over the next few days, for they
             will soon need to travel more. We soon encounter a sizable stream, which we
             ascertain must have its source in the nearby mountains. Therefore, we
             follow this stream. The journey turns out to be done in vain, for we cannot
             find its source. Moreover, our food supplies are dwindling dangerously low.
             Unfortunately, dozens of our horses went missing overnight; we suspect
             the local Indians. After all, we saw some smoke signals coming from the
             southwest the other day. We also doubt so many horses would have run away
             on their own accord. Because of the missing horses, we assign three men to
             The terrain around us is spectacular: the mountains are steep and snow-
             capped and appear to be made of the same clay I referred to earlier, rather
             than rock. The mountains are also treeless; we are on a very high plateau.
             Our expedition intends to bring back Indian Chiefs to the United States so
             ...