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 XIV

ACROSS STARVATION MOUNTAINS

"Sure," said Patrick Gass, "if I wasn't so sore in me feet an' empty in me stomick I could close my eyes an' think myself back in a Pennsylvany barnyard, with the chickens all a-cluckin'."

"But instead, we're four thousand miles from old 'Pennsylvany,' Pat, and in a country where even the dogs are so hungry they eat your moccasins while you sleep," retorted George Shannon. "The pesky brutes stole my best pair last night."

This was the day of September 5. Ca-me-ah-wait and Toby and John Colter and Pat had spoken truly when they had predicted a tough trip. The region west from the Sho-sho-ne village proved impassable. Old Toby had led northward, by hard trail up and down. The two captains rode in the advance; the hunters scouted for game but found little; York's big feet had failed him and he needs must ride until well; Sa-ca-ja-we-a, of course, rode, carrying on her back baby Toussaint; everybody else trudged afoot, each man leading two pack-horses.

The horses soon were worn out by scrambling amidst rain and snow, and falling on the sharp rocks.

What with hauling and shoving and chasing them, the men had decided that boats were easier, after all