+ [174 7 
ling difficult : we were often compelled to make large cireuits, and ascend 
the highest and most exposed ridges, in order to avoid snow, which in 
other places was banked up toa great depth. © 
During the day a few Indians were seen circling around us on snow 
shoes, and skimming along like birds ; but we could not bring them with- 
in speaking distance. Godey, who was alittle distance from the camp, had 
sat down to tie his moccasins, when he heard a low whistle near, and, look- 
ing up, saw two Indians half hiding behind a rock about forty yards distant “4 
they would not allow him to approach, but, breaking into a laugh, skimmed 
off over the snow, seeming to have no idea of the power of fire arms, and 
thinking themselves perfectly safe when beyond arm’s length. 
To-night we did not succeed in getting the howitzer into camp. This. 
was the most laborious day we had yet passed through ; the steep ascents 
and deep snow exhausting both men and animals. Our single chronometer 
had stopped during the day, and its error in time occasioned the loss of an. 
eclipse of a satellite this evening. It had not preserved the rate with. 
which we started from the Dalles, and this will account for the absence. 
of longitudes along this interval of our journey. 
Jan 
being required to bring up the gun, I went ahead with Mr. Fitzpatrick and 
a few men, leaving\the camp to follow, in charge of Mr. Preuss. We fol- 
lowed a trail down a hollow where the Indians had descended, the snow 
being so deep that we never came near the ground ; but this only made our 
descent the easier, and, when we reached alittle affluentto the river at the 
bottom, we suddenly found ourselves in presence of eight or ten Indians. 
They seemed to be watching our motions, and, like the others, at first were. 
indisposed to let us approach, ranging themselves like birds on a fallen, 
Seat 
