and myself were furnished with excellent pistols. Thus accoutred, we took
a parting breakfast with our friends; and set forth.

Our journey the first day afforded nothing of any interest. We shot a
buffalo towards sunset, and having obtained some meat for our evening
meal, encamped where a little timber afforded us the means of making a
fire. Having disposed our meat on roasting-sticks, we proceeded to unpack
our bales in search of coffee and sugar, and flour for bread. With the
exception of a little parched coffee, unground, we found nothing. Our cook
had neglected to put it up, or it had been somehow forgotten. Tired and
hungry, with tough bull-meat without salt, (for we had not been able to
kill a cow,) and a little bitter coffee, we sat down in silence to our
miserable fare, a very disconsolate party; for yesterday's feast was yet
fresh in our memories, and this was our first brush with misfortune. Each
man took his blanket, and laid himself down silently; for the worst part
of these mishaps is, that they make people ill-humored. To-day we had
traveled about thirty-six miles.

6th.--Finding that our present excursion would be attended with
considerable hardship, and unwilling to expose more persons than
necessary, I determined to send Mr. Preuss back to the party. His horse,
too, appeared in no condition to support the journey; and accordingly,
after breakfast, he took the road across the hills, attended by one of my
most trusty men, Bernier. The ridge between the rivers is here about
fifteen miles broad, and I expected he would probably strike the fork near
their evening camp. At all events he would not fail to find their trail,
and rejoin them the next day.

We continued our journey, seven in number, including the three Cheyennes.
Our general course was southwest, up the valley of the river, which was