144 BOAT BUILDING. 



chargers m vain eSbri to escape, proved that they won their supper at an 

 enonnous expense of leg-wear. 



Feb. Ath. All things being in readiness, we bade farewell to winter- 

 quarters, and commenced our journey. 



Crossing the river soon after, on ascending the opposite bank, a cart up- 

 set and deposited its contents in the water. The load, consisting of robes 

 and powder, became thoroughly saturated, and we were employed a full 

 hour in fishing it out. The stream being waist-deep and filled with floating 

 ice, amid which we were forced to plunge, our task was far from a 

 pleasant one. 



The freight needed drying, and we were detained two days for that pur- 

 pose. Meanwhile the drenched powder was subjected to the experiments 

 of one of our engages. Having spread it to dry, he was carelessly bend- 

 ing over it, when a spark from the camp-fire struck the ready ignitible ; 

 a sprightly flash, enveloping the luckless wight in a sheet or flame, told 

 the instant result Springing to his feet, he exclaimed : 



" Bless my stars ! That's what I call regular blowing up .'" 



" Aye, aye, my lad," says one. " You was always a bright youth, — but 

 never before did you appear half so brilliant. 'Tis a fact, or I'm a liar !" 



Resuming our course, the second night following was passed at a pool 

 of water between L'eau-qui-court and Rawhide. Here, having placed my 

 shoes under my head for better security, I slept soundly till morning. 

 Rising at an early hour, I turned for them, but one was missing, and, after 

 searching far and near, it could not be found. 



The mystery of its disappearance, however, was fully solved by the nu- 

 merous wolf tracks that appeared on all sides ; — some straggling marauder 

 had stolen it during the night, and quietly deposited it in his empty stomach 

 as the substitute for an early breakfast. 



Our camp at Rawhide was beset with a throng of Indians from an adjoin- 

 ing village, who, as usual, were loudly clamorous and importunate for liquor. 

 A beautiful young squaw was brought in, to exchange for that article. 

 However, their solicitations were of no avail and their vitiated appetites 

 went unappeased. 



On tlie 12th of February we reached the Fort, and thus ended our disas- 

 trous and eventful expedition. 



Winter in the neighborhood of the Platte had been remarkably mild, 

 and at no time during the season had the snow remained upon the ground 

 to exceed a day. Vegetation, even thus early, was beginning to put forth, 

 and bring to view the beauty and loveliness of spring. 



Preparations were already on foot for building a Imt for the transporta- 

 tion of furs to the States by way of the river, and, at the solicitation of 

 of the company's agent, I reluctantly consented to take charge of it during 

 tlie voyage, — thus deferring, for the present, my design of visiting Oregon. 

 The timber used in its construction was procured firom the neighboring 

 pine hills, and prepared by a laborious process of hand, with tbe aid of a 

 pit-saw. The ribs and other timber were obtained from an ash grove, a few 



