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Show JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE ped the remainder. We crawled up to the dead one and shot from hin1 as many as twelve or fourtc'"'n times among the gang; when they removed out of sight. We then proceeded to butcher the one we had shot ; and after procuring each of us a load of the n1eat, we marched for the camp, the sn1oke of which was in view. We arrived at the camp to the great joy of our brave lads, who immediately feasted sumptuously, after our repast I sent for the lad who had presumed to speak discontentedly in the course of the day, and addressed him to the following ef. cct: "Brown, you this day prcsun1ed to 1nakc use of lan. " guagc which was seditious and mutinous; I then pass" ed it over, pitying your situation and attributing it to " your distress, rather than your inclination, to sow dis" content amongst the party. Had I re::;erved provisions " for oursclv v~ , vvhtlst you were starving; had we been " n1arching al~ mg ~~~ hr and at our ease, whilst you were I-' weigh ed clown :vith your burden ; then you would have " had some lJl rtext for your observations ; but when we " were equally hung ry, weary, emaciated and charged " with b urden, which I believe my natural strength is less " able to bear , than any man's in the party ; when we arc " always foremost in breaking the road, r econnoitering and " the fatigues of the chace; it was the height of ingratitude 4 ' in you, to let an expression escape which was indica" tive of discontent; your r eady compliance and firm per,, severance, I had n 'ason to ex pect, as the leader of men " and n1y companions, in miseries and danger s. But your " duty as a soldiC'r called on your obedience to your officer, " and a prohibition of such languag0, which for this time, " I will pardon, but assu rc you, shol.lld it ever be repeated, ' ' by instant death, l will r evenge your ingratitude anJ "' punish your disobedience. 1 take this opportunity like" wise to assure ym.1, soldiers generally -of my thanks for TO TilE SOURCES OP THE AH.K ·\NSA\V, &c. 191 " obedience, perseverance and ready contempt of every " danger, which you have gener ally evinced; I assure you " nothing shall be wanting on my part, to p1 ocun~ you " the rewards of our government and gratitude of your " countrymen." They all appeared very much affected, and r etir 'd ':vith assurances of perseverance in duty &c. l)istance 9 mil· ·s. 25tb January, Sunday.-I determined never again to march with so little provision on hand ; as had the storm continued one day longer, the animals would have continued in the mountains, and we should have became so weak as not to be able to hunt, and of conrs have perished. The doctor went out with the boys, and they secured three of the buffalo ; we commenced bringing in the 1neat, at which we continued all day. 26th January, Monday.-Got in all the meat and dried it on a scaffold, intending to take as much as possible along and leave one of my frozen lads with the balanc~, as a deposit for the parties who might r eturn for their bag~ gage &c. on their way to Baroney's camp. 27th January, T ucsday.- W e marched, determining to cross the mounta.ins, leaving Menaugh encamped with our deposit, after a bad days march, through snows, some places three feet deep ; we struck on a brook which led west, which I followed down, and shortly camg to a small run, running west; which we hailed with fervency as the waters of the R ed river. Saw some sign of elk. Distance 14 miles. 28th January, Hlcdnesday.-Followed down the ravine and discovered after some time that there had been a road cu: out, and on many trees wer • va rious hier ogl:yphicks pam ted; after marching some miles, we clit>cov •red th roL1gh the lengthy vista at a disranc<>, another chain of moun lain. |
