in the enterprise. The needed horses and mules were secured, and
three men were hired to accompany them across the country to Fort
Laramie.

This station was a hundred and twenty-five miles distant, and the
new hands engaged, as a matter of course, were so familiar with
it, that there was no possibility of going astray. The journey
was resumed on the second day after reaching the fort, and without
meeting with any particular incident they arrived at their destination,
three days later.

Fort Laramie, at that time, was one of the most important posts of
the far west. It had large bastions at the corners, and its high
walls were whitewashed and picketed.

Several lodges of Sioux Indians were pitched close by, and the
division under charge of Kit Carson having arrived several days
before, had also gone into camp with the appearance of the commander
of the expedition.



CHAPTER XX


Alarming News -- Fremont Presses Forward and is Not Molested --
Arrival at South Pass -- Fremont's Account of the Ascent of the
Highest Peak of the Rocky Mountains -- The Return to Fort Laramie
-- Carson Starts for New Mexico -- End of Fremont's First Exploring
Expedition.