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Show 72 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF river was impossible, and to ascend the perpendicular cliffs, which hemmed us in on either · side, was equally impossible. Our only alternative was to go ·ahead. ''After passing six days without tasting food, the men were weak and disheartened. I listened to all their murmurings and heart-rending complaints. They often spoke of home and friends, declaring they would never see them more. Some spoke of wives and children whom they dearly loved, and who must shortly become widows and orphans. They had toiled, they said, through every difficulty; had risked their lives among wild beasts and hostile Indians in the wilderness, all which they were willing to undergo; but who could bear up against actual starvation ? "I encouraged them all in my power, telling them that I bore an equal part in their sufferings; that I, too, was toiling for those I loved, and whom I yet hoped to see again ; that we should all endeavor to keep up our courage, and ·not add to our misfortunes by giving way to despondency. "Another night was passed amid the barren rocks. The next morning, the fearful proposition was made by some of the party for the company to cast lots, to see which should be sacrificed to afford food for the others, without which they must inevitably perish. My feelings at such a proposition can not be described. I begged of them to wait one day more, and make all the way they could meanwhile. By doing so, I said, we must come to a break in the canon, where we could escape. They consented, and, moving down the river as fast as the current would carry us, to our inexpressible joy, we found a break, and a camp of trappers therein. "All now rejoiced that they had not carried their • JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 73 fearful proposition into effect. vVe had ta.llen into good hands, and 'slowly recruited ourselves with the party, which was under the charge of on.e Provo, a man with whom I was well acquainted. By h.is advice, we left the river and proceeded in a northwesterly direction. Provo was well provided with provisions and horses, and he supplied us with both. . We remained with his party until we arrived at the Great Salt Lake. Here I fell in with a large company of trappers, composed of Canadians and Iroquois Indians, under the command of Peter Ogden, in the service of the Northwest Fur Company. With this party I made a very good bargain, as you will see when they arrive at our camp, having purchased all their peltry on very reasonable terms." The general concluded his narrative, and was congratulated by all present on his safe arrival. We were all rejoiced to hear that, during an absence of six or seven weeks, he had not lost a man. We then proceeded to uncacl~e our goods, which we had buried at the " Suck," and prepared to move up the river to a point where the Canadians and Indians had engaged to meet him with their peltry. The general appointed me captain of a party to meet the Canadians, and escort them to the rendezvous which he had proposed to them, w bile he and some few others remained to bring up the goo.ds, consisting of flour, sugar, coffee, blankets, tobacco, whisky, and all other articles necessary for that region. There were at this time assembled at our camp about two hundred men, besides many women and children-for many of the Frenchmen were accompa- ~ nied with a squaw. · I took with me eighty men, with their women, children, and effects, leaving for the gen- D |
