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Show CAEELESS PACKING OF THE MULES. Ill CHAPTER XVIH. Careless Packing of Animals-Mule Missing-Their value as Roadsters-Col. Fremont's Horse gives out-His Humanity Exemplified-Wolf killed for Food-Raven Shot- River Bottom-Original Forest-Large Camp Fires-Terrible Rain Storm-Disagreeable Bed-Darkness-Fires Extinguished-Value of Rain-Glorious Sunrise-Contrast with Home Comforts. CAEELESS PACKING OF THE MULES. FEOM careless packing of the mules, many of our party were often detained on the road. A bale of blankets or buffalo robes, would be displaced while descending some steep mountain; the mule, finding himself free from his load, would dart off in an opposite direction at full speed; a chase ensued, sometimes for over an hour before he could be captured, repacked, and again placed on the trail. After performing a most arduous and difficult day's journey of fifteen miles, over continuous ranges of snowy ridges, we discovered that the mule on which was packed the bales of red cloth and blankets, intended for trading with the Indians, was missing. The muleteers did not remember to have seen him during the day. The animal was well trained, and was considered as one of the most willing and docile mules in the lot. Two men were sent back to look for him; it was easy to see if he had left the track, for the snow was unbroken, except on the trail make by our own party. The men not returning in good time, we became |
