About noon
During the forenoon we passed over a '' _ motte _ '' of prairie or park . Its surface was nearly level , but it was studded here and there with clumps and coppices of cottonwoods and other trees and shrubs . To the north the horizon was shut in by a lofty mountain chain which seemingly barred our pathway , although at a great distance , and between us and this barrier was a range of much less elevation , such as are called `` foot hills '' in this region . About noon we came upon a small stream which crossed our line of march , running off to the eastward . Upon its banks we halted for a short period , watering and feeding our horses , and satisfying our own appetites from our supply of dried meat . This done we resumed our march . We now found the timber islands became less frequent , and in half an hour 's ride we left them altogether behind , and rode for several miles over an open plain .