as the
last night they were to spend upon its borders. More than eight hundred
miles of hard travelling, and many weary days, had it cost them; and the
sufferings connected with it rendered it hateful in their remembrance,
so that the Canadian voyageurs always spoke of it as "La maudite riviere
enragee"--the accursed mad river--thus coupling a malediction with its
name.

CHAPTER XXXVII

Departure From Snake River--Mountains to the North.--Wayworn
Travellers--An Increase of the Dorion Family.--A Camp of
Shoshonies.--A New-Year Festival Among the Snakes.--A Wintry
March Through the Mountains.--A Sunny Prospect, and Milder
Climate.--Indian Horse-Tracks.--Grassy Valleys.--A Camp of
Sciatogas.--Joy of the Travellers.-Dangers of Abundance.--
Habits of the Sciatogas.--Fate of Carriere.--The Umatilla.--
Arrival at the Banks of the Columbia.--Tidings of the
Scattered Members of the Expedition.--Scenery on the
Columbia.--Tidings of Astoria-Arrival at the Falls.

ON the 24th of December, all things being arranged, Mr. Hunt turned his
back upon the disastrous banks of Snake River, and struck his course
westward for the mountains. His party, being augmented by the late
followers of Mr. Crooks, amounted now to thirty-two white men, three
Indians, and the squaw and two children of Pierre Dorion. Five jaded,
half-starved horses were laden with their luggage, and, in case of need,
were to furnish them with provisions. They travelled painfully about
fourteen miles a day, over plains and among hills, rendered dreary by
occasional falls of snow and rain. Their only sustenance was a scanty
meal of horse flesh once in four-and-twenty hours.

On the third day the poor Canadian, Carriere, one of the famished party
of Mr. Crooks, gave up in despair, and laying down upon the ground
declared he could go no further. Efforts were made to cheer him up, but
it was found that the poor fellow was absolutely exhausted and could
not keep on his legs. He was mounted, therefore, upon one of the horses,
though the forlorn animal was in little better plight than himself.

On the 28th, they came upon a small stream winding to the north, through
a fine level valley; the mountains receding on each side. Here their
Indian friends pointed out a chain of woody mountains to the left,
running north and south, and covered with snow, over which they would
have to pass. They kept along the valley for twenty-