FROM BITTER ROOT VALLEY TO FLATHEAD LAKE AND KOOTENAY RIVER. 
525 
were encamped on the northern edge of the prairie. We found still camped here Mr. Ogden, 
who had awaited our return from the Kootenay river, and, very fortunately for us, he had, a few 
days previous to our arrival, received a supply of goods and provisions from Fort Vancouver, for 
we arrived at his camp without an iota of provisions. He willingly supplied us with a sufficiency 
to last us to the Bitter Root valley. We had here the luxury of a cup of coffee and a piece of 
bread, which having been without for many weeks, none could appreciate more than ourselves. 
Our animals being much jaded, we remained here a day to rest and recruit, where we found the 
grass green and abundant, and on the following day, (May 2,) securing the services of an Indian 
boatman to ferry us across the Clark’s fork, we camped on its right bank, being unable to cross 
on account of the high wind. Early on the morning of the 3d of May we crossed everything in 
safety to the opposite bank. Our boat was a bark canoe, such as is used by the Pend d’Oreilles 
of the lake—light, but exceeding fragile. The river here is three hundred yards wide, flowing with 
a very gentle current. Thence travelling up the left bank of the river, for a distance of twelve 
miles, we turned more to the north, up the left bank of the Jocko river, crossing the Course des 
Femmes creek at its mouth, where we encamped for the night. We were favored to-day with 
mild and beautiful weather, which, together with the bright green grass, the blooming and bud¬ 
ding of the trees, and the many beautiful and varied flowers that lined our pathway, rendered the 
day truly worthy of the month of May. 
May 4.—Resuming our march this morning at an early hour, we reached the Hell Gate river 
at 1 p. m., which we found much swollen, deep, and very rapid. It here became necessary to 
build rafts, and setting the party at work, in three hours we made two rafts, and had everything 
ready for crossing. Gabriel, with one of the men and an Indian woman and her children, who 
had accompanied us from the Camash prairie, were on one raft, Mr. Adams, myself, and my 
remaining man being on the other. There was a point of land projecting from the opposite shore 
which it was our intention to strike, if possible; yet so impetuous was the current, that we moved 
in the channel with a headlong velocity, landing about a quarter of a mile down on the same 
side from which we started. Here so great was the current, that it was impossible to stop the raft, 
but we were thrown with frightful force against rocks, fallen trees, bushes, islands, in fact every¬ 
thing that formed an obstruction in the stream. Haifa mile from our point of starting the current 
divided into two channels, carrying us to the opposite shore ; here we were brought against a large 
fallen tree, the limbs of which we seized to stop the raft; but so strong was the current that we 
could not stem it for a moment, but moved with an awful swiftness down the stream. In our 
attempt to hold on by the limbs of the tree, I was knocked overboard, compelling me to swim 
with my clothes; I succeeded in reaching the raft, with the aid of one of my men, who dragged 
me out of the water. At this place we lost our poles, and were thus left to the chances of fortune. 
We then stripped to facilitate our swimming, and on nearing a rocky island each man, with a line 
that had been made fast to the raft, sprang overboard, as the last resort to save ourselves and the 
raft; here, by dint of perseverance and hard labor, we succeeded in holding it, allowing it to drift 
gradually against some fallen timber that lay at the end of the island. To the left of this rocky 
island lay another formed of fallen timber, but between the raft and the latter island lay a broad 
gulf of water, flowing with a most impetuous current; here we had sufficient time to build a log 
bridge, and throw everything from the raft to the island. We succeeded in saving the greater 
portion of our property; but just as the last bale was removed from the raft, already two feet under 
water, the water dashed over it, and in a few minutes it was broken to pieces and carried down 
this much dreaded river. Gabriel had been more successful, but had been compelled to swim 
with a cord three times, and with the aid of a horse, before he succeeded in landing in safety. 
And here I am compelled to bear testimony to the great energy, courage, and activity displayed 
by Mr. Adams on an occasion when our whole party came near being drowned: already fatigued 
by swimming, wading, and walking over rocks and stones, he threw everything from our raft to 
the island. Here we were, then, on a desolate island, naked, with abroad stream still between 
