to Mr. M'Kenzie's detachment, which had struck across the
plains, they thought it would have sufficient difficulty in struggling
forward through the trackless wilderness. For five days they continued
to support themselves by trapping and fishing. Some fish of tolerable
size were speared at night by the light of cedar torches; others, that
were very small, were caught in nets with fine meshes. The product
of their fishing, however, was very scanty. Their trapping was also
precarious; and the tails and bellies of the beavers were dried and put
by for the journey.

At length two of the companions of Mr. Reed returned, and were hailed
with the most anxious eagerness. Their report served but to increase the
general despondency. They had followed Mr. Reed for some distance below
the point to which Mr. Hunt had explored, but had met with no Indians
from whom to obtain information and relief. The river still presented
the same furious aspect, brawling and boiling along a narrow and rugged
channel, between rocks that rose like walls.

A lingering hope, which had been indulged by some of the party, of
proceeding by water, was now finally given up: the long and terrific
strait of the river set all further progress at defiance, and in their
disgust at the place, and their vexation at the disasters sustained
there, they gave it the indignant, though not very decorous, appellation
of the Devil's Scuttle Hole.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Determination of the Party to Proceed on Foot.--Dreary
Deserts Between Snake River and the Columbia.--Distribution
of Effects Preparatory to a March--Division of the Party.--
Rugged March Along the River.--Wild and Broken Scenery.--
Shoshonies.--Alarm of a Snake Encampment--Intercourse with
the Snakes.--Horse Dealing.--Value of a Tin Kettle.--
Sufferings From Thirst--A Horse Reclaimed.--Fortitude of an
Indian Woman.--Scarcity of Food.--Dog's Flesh a Dainty.--News
of Mr. Crooks and His Party.--Painful Travelling Among the
Mountains.--Snow Storms.--A Dreary Mountain Prospect.--A
Bivouac During a Wintry Night.--Return to the River Bank.

THE resolution of Mr. Hunt and his companions was now taken to set out
immediately on foot. As to the other detachments that had in a manner
gone forth to seek their fortunes, there was little chance of their
return; they would probably make their own way through the wilderness.
At any rate, to linger in the vague