part of his labors,
the ascent of the highest peak of the mountains was commenced. The
length of the journey had jaded the animals. It was very difficult to
procure game. The men had undergone such severe hardships that their
spirits had become almost worn out. The daily fare now was dried
buffalo meat. This was about the consistency of a pine stick; and,
in taste, resembled a piece of dried bark. Besides these rather
uncomfortable prospects, the expedition stood in constant fear of an
attack by the Indians. It was now in the country of the Blackfeet;
and, only a short distance from the encampment, at the foot of the
mountain, there was one of their forts. In the face of all these
obstacles, sufficiently formidable to have deterred most commanders,
the mountain party was detailed, being fourteen in number including
Fremont. A man named Bernier was left in command of the camp which
had been made by felling forest trees in a space about forty feet in
diameter, using the trunks to form a breastwork. The camp was thus
concealed by the trees and their foliage. It was well calculated for
defence, and a few determined men could have maintained it against
almost any Indian force.

On the 12th day of August the mountain party left the camp. It was
fifteen in number. On the 14th of August some of the party reached an
elevation at which the barometer stood 19.401. On the 15th some of
the party were sent back. Kit Carson had command of this party. The
remainder consisted of Colonel Fremont, Mr. Preuss, Basil Lajeunesse,
Clement Lambert, Janesse, and Descoteaux. The day previous Kit Carson
had alone climbed one of the highest peaks of the main ridge from
which he had a full view of the highest peak, which rose about eight
or ten hundred feet above him. The arduous labors of the 14th August
had determined the commander to ascend no higher. Instead of carrying
out this intention, after Kit Carson with his party had set out,
Fremont made one more effort to climb the highest peak and succeeded.
His own words in describing this ascent are as follows:

"'At intervals, we reached places where a number of springs gushed
from the rocks, and about 1,800 feet above the lakes came to the
snow line. From this point our progress was uninterrupted climbing.
Hitherto, I had worn a pair of thick moccasins, with soles of
_parfleche_; but here I put on a light thin pair, which I had brought
for the purpose, as now the use of our toes became necessar