30 AUDUBON 



than is shown us. Our captain having invited us to re- 

 main with him to-night, we have done so, and will break- 

 fast with him to-morrow morning. It is his intention to 

 leave as early as he can settle his business here. All 

 the trappers are gone to the fort, and in a few weeks will 

 be dispersed over different and distant parts of the wilder- 

 ness. The filth they had left below has been scraped and 

 washed off, as well indeed as the whole boat, of which 

 there was need enough. I have copied this journal and 

 send it to St. Louis by our good captain ; also one box of 

 skins, one pair Elk horns, and one bundle of Wolf and 

 other skins. 



June 14, Wednesday. At six this morning all hands 

 rose early; the residue of the cargo for St. Louis was 

 placed on board. Our captain told us time was up, and 

 we all started for the fort on foot, quite a short distance. 

 Having deposited our guns there. Bell, Squires, and I 

 walked off to the wooding-place, where our captain was to 

 remain a good while, and it was there we should bid him 

 adieu. We found this walk one of the worst, the very 

 worst, upon which we ever trod ; full of wild rose-bushes, 

 tangled and matted with vines, burs, and thorns of all sorts, 

 and encumbered by thousands of pieces of driftwood, some 

 decayed, some sunk in the earth, while others were en- 

 tangled with the innumerable roots exposed by floods and 

 rains. We saw nothing but a few Ravens. When nearly 

 half way, we heard the trampling of galloping horses, and 

 loud hallooings, which we found to proceed from the 

 wagon of which we have spoken, which, loaded with men, 

 passed us at a speed one would have thought impossible 

 over such ground. Soon after we had a heavy shower of 

 rain, but reached the boat in good order. Harris and 

 Sprague, who had followed us, came afterwards. I was 

 pretty hot, and rather tired. The boat took on wood for 

 half an hour after we arrived ; then the captain shook us 

 all by the hand most heartily, and we bade him God speed. 



