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Show 124 TEAVELS AND ADVENTUEES IN THE FAE WEST. reviewed our situation, and the enervated condition of the men, our future prospects of getting into settlements, and the necessity there was for mutual encouragement, instead of vain regrets, and despondency; the difficulties were to be met, and it depended on ourselves, whether we should return to our families, or perish on the mountains ; he bade me good night, telling me that in the morning he would endeavor to make some arrangements to mount the men. The next day, he called the men together and told them that he had determined to " cache " all the superfluous baggage of the camp, and mount the men on the baggage animals, as a last resource. Nothing was to he retained but the actual clothing necessary to protect us from the inclemency of the weather. A place was prepared in the snow, our large buffalo lodge laid out, and all the pack saddles, bales of cloth and blankets, the travelling bags, and extra clotles of the men, my daguerreotype boxes, containing besides, several valuable scientific intruments, and everything that could possibly be spared, together with the surplus gunpowder and lead, were placed in it, and carefully covered up with snow, and then quantities of brush to protect it from the Indians. I previously took out six sperm candles from my boxes, and gave them to Lee, the Colonel's servant, in charge; they were subsequently found most useful. A main station was made at this place, so as to be able to find it if occasion demanded that we should send for them. The men no w were all mounted; a large mule was allotted to me, and we again started, rejoicing in having animals to carry us. After this, every horse or mule that gave out, placed a man on foot without the possi- |