214 ON THE FRONTIER. 



round of the quarters, and the two hunters and guides 

 professionally employed with the command oracles in such 

 matters on hearing them, gave as their opinion and verdict 

 that ' Airy a man ' who would undertake to find and cross 

 the M6sca Pass in such a season had ' a derned sight more 

 grit ' or was an ' all-fired bigger fool ' than they were. And 

 one of them further added, in * Pike ' vernacular : ' Wai ! see 

 here, boys ! the cuss who cud fine his way over them air 

 mountings, with all that air snow on 'em, cud fine his way 



eout of H blindfole shure ! yeow bet !' I had achieved 



a reputation ! 



" The captain insisted I should abandon all thoughts of 

 retracing my steps, pointing out that no man had a right 

 to expect more than average luck, and that I had recently 

 had such a good and long run in my favour, by the absence 

 of wind and storms, I was not warranted in expecting its 

 continuance, certainly not in acting on any such assump- 

 tion ; and further, that he considered it more than ques- 

 tionable if loaded animals would: be able to cross the 

 summit snows ; whereas, if I would stop a few days with 

 him, he would ensure my getting safely back by the 

 Sangre-de-Cristo Pass. He then told me he was anxious 

 to open his communications, and had already given orders 

 that preparations should be made for the start of a road- 

 party of forty men, with all necessary transport, stores, 

 and tools, including a snow-plough, on which the Post 

 blacksmith and Post carpenter were already at work, and 

 that in about a couple of days they would start out. If I 

 would take his advice and stop, he would do his best to 

 entertain me until word should come back that the road 

 was opened. By that time my animals would be recruited, 



