f losing
our mules faster than we required them for subsistence when we passed
the Mountains.

Take willow, or other flexible rods, and make long sleds, less in width
than the track, securing the cross-pieces with rawhide thongs. Skin the
animals, and cut the hides into pieces to fit the bottom of the sleds,
and make them fast, with the hair on the upper side. Attach a raw-hide
thong to the front for drawing it, and it is complete. In a very cold
climate the hide soon freezes, becomes very solid, and slips easily
over the snow. The meat and other articles to be transported are then
placed upon the sled so as not to project over the sides, and lashed
firmly. Lieutenant Cresswell, who was detached from Captain M'Clure's
ship in the Arctic regions in 1853, says his men dragged 200 pounds
each upon sledges over the ice. They could not, of course, pull as much
over deep snow, but it is believed that they would have no difficulty
in transporting half this amount, which would be sufficient to keep
them from starvation at least fifty days.

I am quite confident that a party of men who find themselves involved
in deep snows, dependent solely upon their own physical powers, and
without beasts of burden, can prolong their lives for a greater time,
travel farther, and perform more labor by adopting the foregoing
suggestions than in any other way.

C. _Indian Signals._

When Indians are pursued by a large force, and do not intend to make
resistance, they generally scatter as much as possible, in order to
perplex and throw off those who follow their trail, but they have an
understanding where they are to rendezvous in advance. Sometimes,
however, circumstances may arise during a rapid flight making it
necessary for them to alter these plans, and turn their course in
another direction. When this happens, they are in the habit of leaving
behind them some well-understood signals to indicate to their friends
in the rear the change in their-movements.

For instance, they will sometimes leave a stick or other object to
attract attention, and under this bury an arrow pointing in the new
direction they intend to take. They will then continue on for a time in
the course they have been pursuing, until they get upon hard ground,
where it is difficult to see their tracks, then gradually turn their
course in the new direction.

THE END.

[Illustration: SKETCH of the DIFFERENT ROADS.]

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