170 ON THE FKONTIER. 



of those who remained, would, to a great extent be dependent 

 on that of those who went. The chief fear was that another 

 fall of snow might catch the relief party en route. Should 

 such a misfortune happen, they would most probably be 

 drifted -up and perish ; while the two who remained in the 

 valley would, if they did not have the good fortune to find 

 the strayed animals or get some game, have only the two 

 dogs between them and starvation. 



Should the provisions of the relief party become exhausted 

 before they got to where they could obtain a supply, they 

 were to kill an animal and pack his flesh on the others, re- 

 placing him, if possible, at the military post ; but whatever 

 they did, they were in the first place to consult their own 

 safety. 



My comrade, being the best mountaineer of the party, in- 

 sisted that the dangers and hazards of attempting to find a 

 way over the mountain-range should fall on him. The two 

 hired men settled between themselves who should go and who 

 stay, deciding the question by a game of " seven-up," which 

 fated that Joe should remain in camp and Laughfy depart 

 with my companion. 



Three days of uninterrupted sunshine greatly encouraged 

 us, and although it froze hard each night, the middle of the 

 days were warm and pleasant ; and all preparations being 

 made, the adventurers started out upon their dangerous 

 trip. 



The commissary supplies were miserably scanty for such 

 an expedition : a few pounds of bread, half the remainder of 

 the cooked maize strained from the water it had been boiled 

 in, all the sugar and coffee in camp some three days' 



