JOHN C. FREMONT. 215 



great labor the baggage was transported across the 

 crest to the head-springs of a little stream leading to 

 the main river. A few days were sufficient to de- 

 stroy our fine band of mules. They generally kept 

 huddled together, and, as they froze, one would be 

 seen to tumble down, and the snow would cover 

 him: sometimes they would break off and rush 

 down toward the timber, until they were stopped 

 by the deep snow, where they were soon hidden by 

 the pouderie. The courage of the men failed fast : 

 in fact, I have never seen men so soon discouraged 

 by misfortune as we were on this occasion ; but, as 

 you know, the party was not constituted like the 

 former ones. But among those who deserve to be 

 honorably mentioned, and who behaved like what 

 they were, men of the old exploring party, were 

 Godey, King, and Taplin ; and first of all Godey. 

 In this situation, I determined to send in a party to 

 the Spanish settlements of New Mexico for provi- 

 sions and mules to transport our baggage to Taos. 

 "With economy, and after we should leave the mules, 

 we had not two weeks' provisions in the camp. 

 These consisted of a store which I had reserved for 

 a hard day, macaroni and bacon. From among the 

 volunteers I chose King, Brackenridge, Creutzfeldt, 

 and the guide Williams ; the party under the com- 

 mand of King. In case of the least delay at the 



