That parting I shall not forget, Though I live to be aged and gray; For comrade ties did _scarcely_ let Me tear from them away. PART II. CHAPTER I. We Start for the Mountains--Las Animas--Pueblo--Colorado Springs--Manitou--Mineral Springs--We Ascend Pike’s Peak--Balancing Rock--Garden of the Gods--Devil’s Hole--Return to Manitou. At two o’clock P.M. of June 5th, 1879, everything being in readiness, our little party of three bid farewell to our Granada friends and the pleasant old tramping-ground and steered our course _westward_, expecting to traverse the beautiful snow-capped mountains and to gratify our long-cherished desires. There could not have been a more jolly outfit than ours as we wound up the pretty green valley of the Arkansas, waving our hats and flirting farewell to our acquaintances who stood in the narrow doors of their little _adobe_ homes. To me it appeared like leaving home; and, though cheered by pleasant anticipations, I have no doubt that there was more solemnity in the occasion for me than for the rest of the party, who rejoiced while thinking of the scenery that yet lay before us. We were now traveling upon what is known in Fremont’s travels as the “Great American Desert;” yet the description given of this country by General Fremont nearly half a century ago fails to compare with the reality of to-day. Though I shall not stop here to question the credibility of our able explorer, yet permit me to say, by way of explanation, that great physical changes often take place, and more especially in new countries; and notwithstanding Mr. Fremont’s description of this part of Colorado is not correct as of the present, it may have been _nearer_ so when _he_, with his daring followers, faced the dangers of the savage land and matched strength with the red warrior. As said before, this is now the home of the stock-raiser; and thousands of cattle may be constantly seen grazing on this so-called American desert. Here they remain during the twelve months of the year, without shelter or any unnatural protection, and are compelled to “root, hog, or die.” If the winter is severe, many of them fall victims to the freezing blasts. But this being in the month of _June_, the cattle were in fine condition; and while passing along our attention was often attracted by their fine _appearance_, which drew forth many suggestions and some interesting remarks concerning the subject of stock-raising, of which the following is an example: “See that fine cow yonder; and look what a fine calf she has. That cow and calf would be worth seventy-five dollars in Dayton, Ohio. What do you think, Will?” “Well,” said Will, who was always jealous over his native state, “we have lots of finer cows than _that_ in _Nebraska_; and there are calves where I came from that are but six weeks old which beat those all to pieces.”