Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/85

Rh good wife will cook for me at this late hour. You would not let me eat those big snails, nor eat you, so now I'm going to do as I please." Mrs. Rector, however, did not please to be over lavish in her supply for that meal, so no disaster followed.

In the morning all gathered around to hear the result of the advance expedition. Mr. Rector spoke first and said: "We have found a good route for a road, but it will be a very hazardous journey this time of the year. I dread the possibility of the danger for my wife, so we have concluded to return to The Dalles." Mr. Barlow, wishing to allay fear and dread on the part of others, spoke quickly, "Mr. Rector, you are at liberty to do as you please. If I had any fears of losing any of my company on account of the road, I would not say 'Go' to any of them; but I know we can go on from here and reach the summit of the Cascades, the mountains we have started in to overcome. If we can not go on from there we will build a cache for our surplus wagons and baggage and leave two of our trusty young men to guard them. We, ourselves, will follow the trail we have just made, and soon reach the civilization of the Northwest.All except Mr. Rector and wife determined to advance, and preparations began at once. Wm. Berry and Wm. Barlow agreed to take charge of the wagons until the condition of the weather and road would permit their being brought out.

It was now late in November. The snow was liable to blockade us at any day, so it was decided to send the cattle over the Indian trial at once. Wm. Barlow was to accompany James A. Barlow and John L. Barlow over the mountain as far as the main Sandy road. Here he would procure what supplies he could and return to the hungry men and women in the mountains. The old Indian trail was marked out by the Indians regardless