chargers ill vain effort to escape, proved that they won their supper at an enormous expense of leg-wear.
Feb. 4th. All things being in readiness, we bade farewell to winter quarters, and commenced our journey.
Crossing the river soon after, on ascending the opposite bank, a cart upset and deposited its contents in the water. The load, consisting of robes and powder, became thoroughly saturated, and we were employed a full hour in fishing it out. The stream being waist-deep and filled with floating ice, amid which we were forced to plunge, our task was far from a pleasant one.
The freight needed drying and we were detained two days for that purpose. Meanwhile the drenched powder was subjected to the experiments of one of our
30 The magpie of the mountains is the torment of all sore-backed horses, particularly during the winter season. Despite opposition it will feed upon their skinless flesh, often to the very bone.
engagés. Having spread it to dry, he was carelessly bending over it, when a spark from the camp-fire struck the ready ignitible; a sprightly flash, enveloping the luckless wight in a sheet of flame, told the instant result. Springing to his feet, he exclaimed:
"Bless my stars! That's what I call regular blowing up!"
"Ave, aye, my lad," says one. "You was always a bright youth, —but never before did you appear half so brilliant. 'Tis a fact, or I'm a liar!"
Resuming our course, the second night following was passed at a pool of water between L'eau-qui-court and Rawhide. Here, having placed my shoes under my head for better security, I slept soundly till morning. Rising at an early hour, I turned for them, but one was missing, and, after searching far and near, it could not be found.
The mystery of its disappearance, however, was fully solved by the numerous wolf tracks that appeared on all sides;—some straggling marauder had stolen it during the night, and quietly deposited it in his empty stomach as the substitute for an early breakfast.
Our camp at Rawhide was beset with a throng of Indians from an adjoining village, who, as usual, were loudly clamorous and importunate for liquor. A beautiful young squaw was brought in, to exchange for that article. However, their solicitations were of no avail and their vitiated appetites went unappeased.
On the 12th of February we reached the Fort, and thus ended our disastrous and eventful expedition.
Winter in the neighborhood of the Platte had been remarkably mild, and at no time during the season had the snow remained upon the ground to exceed a day. Vegetation, even thus early, was beginning to put forth, and bring to view the beauty and loveliness of spring.
Preparations were already on foot for building a boat for the transportation of furs to the States by way of the river, and, at the solicitation of the company's agent, I reluctantly consented to take charge of it during the voyage, —thus deferring, for the present, my design of visiting Oregon.
The timber used in its construction was procured from the neighboring pine hills, and prepared by a laborious process of hand, with the aid of a pit-saw. The ribs and other timber were obtained from an ash grove, a few
