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Show 84 TEAVELS AND ADVENTUEES IN THE FAE WEST. CHAPTER XIV. Intense Cold-Author's First Journey on Foot-Immense Mountains of Snow-Escape of his Pony-Lose Sight of Companions-Arrival at top of the Mountain-Pony Recovered-Revolution of Feeling-Indian Gratitude Exemplified-Horse Steaks Fried in Tallow Candles-Blanc Mange-New Year's Day-Dangerous Ascent of a Mountain-Mules tumble Down-Animals Killed-Successful Attempt Next Day -Camp in four feet of Snow-Coldest Night-Sleep out in open Snow. EATING, sleeping, and travelling, continually in the open air, with the thermometer descending, as we gradually ascended the immense slopes of country between the frontiers of Missouri and the Rocky Mountains, until I have found myself in a temperature of 30° below zero, prepared my system for the intense cold, which we endured during our journey through that elevated country. Twice only did our party find it too cold to travel longer than half an hour, without stopping and making a large fire to keep ourselves from freezing. We were all mounted at the time, but we found it necessary to walk a greater part of the way, to keep up a circulation of the blood. It is judiciously ordained by a kind Providence, that the cold as well as heat, gradually increases in intensity. If the human body at a temperate heat, say 80° was suddenly exposed to a temperature of 30° below zero, in which we travelled without any extra clothing, no ill effect resulting, we should not have been able to exist for an hour. |
