LIFE IN THE FAB WEST. 77 



sandy plain or rugged mountain, thinly covered with dwarf 

 pine or cedar, the only evidence of vegetable life. Into 

 this desert, ignorant of the country, the trappers struck, 

 intending to make their short cut ; and, travelling on all 

 day, were compelled to camp at night without water or 

 pasture for their exhausted animals, and themselves raven- 

 ous with hunger and parched with thirst. The next day 

 three of their animals " gave out," and they were fain to 

 leave them behind ; but imagining that they must soon 

 strike a creek, they pushed on until noon, but still no 

 water presented itself, nor a sign of game of any description. 

 The animals were nearly exhausted, and a horse which 

 could scarcely keep up with the slow pace of the others 

 was killed, and its blood greedily drunk a portion of the 

 flesh being eaten raw, and a supply carried with them for 

 future emergencies. 



The next morning two of the horses lay dead at their 

 pickets, and one only remained, and this in such a miser- 

 able state that it could not possibly have travelled six 

 miles further. It was therefore killed, and its blood drunk, 

 of which, however, the captive squaws refused to partake. 

 The men began to feel the effects of their consuming thirst, 

 which the hot horse's blood only served to increase ; their 

 lips became parched and swollen, their eyes bloodshot, and a 

 giddy sickness seized them at intervals. About mid-day they 

 came in sight of a mountain on their right hand, which 

 appeared to be more thickly clothed with vegetation ; and 

 arguing from this that water would be found there, they 

 left their course and made towards it, although some eight 

 or ten miles distant. On arriving at the base, the most 

 minute search failed to discover the slightest traces of 

 water, and the vegetation merely consisted of dwarf pinon 

 and cedar. With their sufferings increased by the exer- 

 tion they had used in reaching the mountain, they once 

 more sought the trail, but every step told on their exhausted 

 frames. The sun was very powerful ; the sand over which 

 they floundered was deep and heavy; and, to complete 

 their sufferings, a high wind blew it in their faces, filling 

 their mouths and noses with its searching particles. 



