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Beginning Jnder these circumstances I thought it most advis- 
Journey— able to return in the fall to the United States by an- 
other road than that by which we had come up. Two 
of my former traveling companions came to the same 
resolution. But as we were all novices in mountain 
life, and wished to cross the country in various direc- 
tions, we looked about for an experienced and relia- 
ble guide, and found him in Mr. Richardson, who had 
accompanied our journey up as hunter. So there were 
only four of us to begin the return trip. Our plan 
was to cross the Rocky Mountains in a more southern 
direction; to gradually draw toward the Mexican bor- 
der and to reach the boundary of Missouri by the 
great Santa Fe road. Our undertaking was not with- 
out danger. Our little party, in case of an encounter 
with hostile Indians, had little chance of success. On 
the other hand, we had the advantage of attracting 
less notice and of being able to travel faster. 
We left Fort Hall in high spirits on August roth. 
We proceeded on a southeasterly course directly to 
the Beer Spring, sixty miles off. The road thither 
was hilly and even somewhat mountainous. Pine, 
cedar and cottonwood were the prevailing trees. At2 
little brook I had the pleasure of seeing for the first 
time an old beaver dam. Unfortunately I did not 
get sight of a single beaver on the whole journey; for 
they are very wary and from June to August, during 
which time I was in beaver regions, beaver trapping 
is usually suspended. So I can give the natural his- 
