EETUEN TO CAMP. 215 



and myself and man rested and refreshed. If, between 

 then and the time when the road-party should start out, 

 I would see to having my packs made up, they should 

 be sent on in one of the waggons, so that when I left him I 

 could travel light until I overtook and passed the pioneer 

 party. 



" Of course I accepted his kind offers, and there was no 

 doubt he was right about the summit snows. 



" Late at night on the sixth day after the departure of 

 the road-party a messenger from it arrived, to bring word 

 that the route through the pass was practicable, and that it 

 had taken four days to make it so, the drifted snow lying 

 from twenty to thirty feet deep for the entire length of the 

 gorge through the crest of the range. Then I bade adieu to 

 my kind friend Captain B., and pushing over the ground at 

 forced marches, and without experiencing any great hardship 

 or difficulty, arrived as you see in safety." 



So ended my comrade's account of his adventurous ex- 

 pedition . 



Among the stores brought back was a small but welcome 

 keg of "old Bourbon," and a packet of choice tobacco 

 presents, with his compliments, from the kind-hearted com- 

 mander of the Post long may he wave ! and, with their 

 assistance, our reunion was properly celebrated. 



Having again a good supply of all things needful, it was 

 decided to remain in our once more " happy hunting-ground" 

 until the spring should fairly open and the roads become 

 good, unless the Ute' Indians, whose appearance was then to 

 be expected at any time, should so comport themselves as to 

 render departure advisable. 



