278 FOLLOW THE RIGHT COURSE. 



consistent with the bends and windings of the land. 

 To give them a further chance, for it never 

 entered into my imagination that they had de- 

 serted us, I remained all night; and this the more 

 readily, as the weather was so cold as to make it 

 desirable to court the pale sunshine of the day. 

 At length, wearied with waiting, we com- 

 menced the journey at 10 a. m. of the 18th June, 

 in the accustomed line of march, except that 

 I now preceded as guide, having deputed others 

 to look out for the caches. The thermometer 

 at 36 °, with a strong N. W. gale blowing, 

 made it necessary to defend the eyes from the 

 sharp drift that beat upon them; and going 

 entirely from memory (for, depending on the 

 Indians, I had not thought it worth while to 

 bring my last year's survey), I can ascribe it 

 only to good fortune that I hit upon the right 

 course, in a part so narrow that the current, 

 which was perceptible, had already forced an 

 open passage. On the borders of this narrow 

 grew a few straggling willows, and I had nearly 

 run against one before I perceived a note for 

 me stuck into a notch of a projecting branch. 

 It was to apprise us that two caches had been 

 made in a bay just passed; and, although I 

 thought it likely they would be picked up by 

 those behind, yet, to avoid disappointment, I 

 sent Peter Taylor, one of my party, with the 



