130 NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY 



maglng out the long-neglected stew-pans, while I engaged myself 

 in flaying the little animal, and cutting up his body in readiness 

 for the pots. 



When the camp was aroused, about an hour after, the savory 

 steam of the cookery was rising and saluting the nostrils of our 

 hungry people with its fragrance, who, rubbing their hands with 

 delight, sat themselves down upon the ground, waiting with 

 what patience they might, for the unexpected repast which was 

 preparing for them. 



It was to me almost equal to a good breakfast, to witness the 

 pleasure and satisfaction which I had been the means of diffusing 

 through the camp. 



The repast was ready at length, and we did full justice to it ; 

 every man ate until he was filled, and all pronounced it one of 

 the most delicious meals they had ever assisted in demolishing. 

 When our breakfast was concluded, but little of the colt remained ; 

 that little was, however, carefully packed up, and deposited on 

 one of the horses, to furnish, at least, a portion of another 

 meal. 



The route, this morning, lay along Boisee. For an hour, the 

 travelling was toilsome and difficult, the Indian trail, leading 

 along the high bank of the river, steep and rocky, making our 

 progress very slow and laborious. We then came to a wide 

 plain, interrupted only by occasional high banks of earth, some 

 of them of considerable extent, across which ran the path. To- 

 wards mid-day, we lost sight of these banks, the whole country 

 appearing level, with the exception of some distant hills in the 

 south-west, which we suppose indicate the vicinity of some part 

 of Snake river. 



We have all been disappointed in the distance to this river, 

 and the length of time required to reach it. Not a man in our 

 camp has ever travelled this route before, and all we have known 

 about it has been the general course. 



