And in this mood of mind they would
doubtless have followed the party throughout their whole course over the
Rocky Mountains, rather than be disappointed in their scheme.
CHAPTER XLVI.
Travellers Unhorsed--Pedestrian Preparations--Prying Spies.
--Bonfires of Baggage--A March on Foot.--Rafting a River--The
Wounded Elk.--Indian Trails.--Willful Conduct of Mr.
M'Lellan.--Grand Prospect From a Mountain.--Distant Craters
of Volcanoes--Illness of Mr. Crooks.
FEW reverses in this changeful world are more complete and disheartening
than that of a traveller, suddenly unhorsed, in the midst of the
wilderness. Our unfortunate travellers contemplated their situation,
for a time, in perfect dismay. A long journey over rugged mountains and
immeasurable plains lay before them, which they must painfully perform
on foot, and everything necessary for subsistence or defense must be
carried on their shoulders. Their dismay, however, was but transient,
and they immediately set to work, with that prompt expediency produced
by the exigencies of the wilderness, to fit themselves for the change in
their condition.
Their first attention was to select from their baggage such articles
as were indispensable to their journey; to make them up into convenient
packs, and to deposit the residue in caches.
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