ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, ETC. 73 



found him carefully tied, with the saddle, &c., lying near him. 

 I had not the least idea of where the company had gone, but I 

 knew that on the rich, alluvial banks of the river, the trail of the 

 horses would be distinct enough, and I determined to place my 

 dependence, in a great measure, upon the sagacity of my excel- 

 lent dumb friend, satisfied that he would take me the right 

 course. I accordingly mounted, and off we went at a speed 

 which I found some difficulty in restraining. About half an 

 hour's hard ridinw broua-ht us to the edsie of a laree branch of 

 the stream, and I observed that the horses had here entered. I 

 noticed other tracks lower down, but supposed them to have 

 been made by the wanderings of the loose animals. Here then 

 seemed the proper fording place, and with some little hesitation, 

 I allowed my nag to enter the water ; we had proceeded but a 

 few yards, however, when down he went off a steep bank, far 

 beyond his depth. This was somewhat disconcerting; but there 

 was but one thing to be done, so I turned my horse's head against 

 the swift current, and we went snorting and blowing for the 

 opposite shore. We arrived at length, though in a sadly wet 

 and damaged state, and in a few minutes after, came in view of 

 the new camp. 



Captain W. explained to me that he had heard of good pasture 

 here, and had concluded to move immediately, on account of the 

 horses ; he informed me, also, that he had crossed the stream 

 about fifty yards below the point where I had entered, and had, 

 found an excellent ford. I did not regret my adventure, how- 

 ever, and was congratulating myself upon my good fortune in 

 arriving so seasonably, when, upon looking to my saddle, I dis- 

 covered that my coat was missing. I had felt uncomfortably 

 warm when I mounted, and had removed the coat and attached it 

 carelessly to the saddle ; the rapidity of the current had diseng- 

 aged it, and it was lost for ever. The coat itself was not of much 



consequence after the hard service it had seen, but it contained the 



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