90 GOING DOWN STREAM. 



heavy lurch, a cheery 'All right, Cap.!' from 

 the driver, which tells me we are again on terra 

 firma. We hold a council, and determine to 

 unharness the mustangs, and await the daylight. 

 It certainly was the most miserable night I ever 

 passed; wet, cold, and hungry, my miseries were 

 enhanced by the fear of missing the steamer, and 

 being detained perhaps a month. 



June 10. It was fortunate we did not attempt 

 to proceed ; we are far away from the road, and, as 

 I suspected, had made a short voyage in the 

 Walla- walla river. Luckily, the banks being low 

 and shelving, the horses were enabled to scramble 

 out, and tug the stage after them. We saved the 

 steamer by the merest chance, and I am again on 

 board. Going down the river is a very different 

 affair to coming up. We go at such a rate, that 

 the wheel at the stern is next to useless ; through 

 some of the swifter rapids it is quite like flying ; 

 if a rock should be touched, we shall be food 

 for the fishes. What occupied us three days to 

 accomplish up-stream, we do in six hours down. 

 I reached my camp at the Dalles about seven 

 o'clock in the evening. 



o 



Three days were occupied in making the neces- 

 sary arrangements for departure. 



June 14. We start again for Walla -walla, this 



