Page:A History of the Pacific Northwest.djvu/187

154 is dropped from its team (the teams being inside the circle), the team is unyoked, and the yoke and chains are used to connect the wagon strongly with that in its front. Within ten minutes from the time the leading wagon halted, the barricade is formed, the teams unyoked and driven out to pasture. Every one is busy preparing fires ... to cook the evening meal, pitching tents and otherwise preparing for the night...." The watches "begin at eight o'clock p.m. and end at four o'clock A.M."

Arrival at Fort Hall, August 27. The daily routine, here so graphically described, must have become extremely wearisome to the pioneers and their families after a few months spent upon the dusty, dreary "trail." At the end of ninety-eight days, on the 27th of August, the company reached Fort Hall, the trading post built by Wyeth in 1832 and afterwards sold to the Hudson's Bay Company, which had become a famous way station on the overland route. They were now on the eastern border of the Oregon country, and two-thirds of the distance to the Willamette had been traversed. The hardships already endured from storm, flood, and the unavoidable mishaps of the long journey across the plains were very great; yet all were aware that the most difficult portion of the trip was still before them. Thus far the road had been comparatively good; at least, the wagons always had a well-marked trail to follow. But this practically terminated at Fort Hall, which was connected with the lower country by only a pack trail. No loaded wagons had