rials that
awaited them. On the second night, the four spare horses seemed to
become disgusted with the whole enterprise, and turning their heads
eastward started on a rapid gallop for the States. Their loss was too
serious to be borne, and a number of men were dispatched in pursuit.
The chase was a long one and the animals were not recovered for several
hours. One of the men lost his way and was forced to spend the night on
the open prairie. At midnight it began to rain, and then the exceedingly
unpleasant discovery was made that the tents on which the explorers
relied for protection and shelter were so thin that they were drenched
as if the water came through a sieve.

The morning, however, brought clear weather and bright sunlight, and
all were in high spirits. The scenery for a time was of a pleasing and
picturesque character, and they pushed contentedly forward, until they
arrived at the ford of the Kansas, one hundred miles from the point
where it emptied into the Missouri.

The stream was found so swollen from recent rains that it could not be
forded. Accordingly several of the mounted men forced their animals into
the stream and swam them across to serve as guides for the rest. They
succeeded quite well, excepting the oxen, which, after floundering
awhile, landed on the same side from which they started. The following
morning they succeeded in crossing.

Among the useful articles with which Fremont had provided himself, was
an India rubber boat, twenty feet long and five feet wide. This was very
buoyant and the carts and baggage were carried over piecemeal in it,
with the exception of the last two carts. Laden with these the boat
left the shore but had not gone far when the man at the helm, who was
exceedingly nervous, managed to capsize the craft, with all its precious
cargo. The hunters were so dismayed over the prospect of losing their
stores that nearly all plunged into the stream and made frantic efforts
to save what they could. Several did not stop to remember that they
could not swim, so that the principal efforts of some of the others were
directed to saving them.

Most of the goods were recovered, but nearly all the sugar dissolved
and every grain of coffee was lost. It would be hard to imagine any
deprivation greater than that to which this misfortune condemned the
explorers. Carson and one of the others made such strenuous efforts in
the water that they were ill the next day, and Fremont remained