Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 11.djvu/234

220 men, altho' obliged to subsist on horseflesh and scanty at that. Still the country must be explored as long as we find water or the means of advancing. Unfortunately this country has been too long neglected. We cannot advance till we find water. On the borders of these muddy lakes we found huts of Snakes, I suppose.

At dawn of day I started 2 men to proceed S. E. to return tomorrow morning; as they have 2 meals, they will march all night and I wish them success. If we do not succeed in that direction, our starvation will be most distressing and in the extreme.

8 A. M. The two men arrive and report so far as they have been, and the distance must be great, as they did not encamp, they only found water in a small lake at no distance from this, and the country they traveled over continued barren plains covered with worm wood; no appearance of mountains and unfortunately for us, no river. No hope in that quarter. On receiving these tidings, I ordered the men off again in a northeast course, one to return this night or tomorrow if they found water, the other to proceed. At 9 A. M. they started. One-fourth of the party sick owing to the muddy, stagnant water. If I escape this year, I will not be doomed to endure another.

At dawn of day the man arrived and reported he had found water and a high hill which he saw when we were here last fall. On giving the call for our horses, two were found missing; their tracks seen; also Indians. At 9 A. M. we started northeast over a hilly and stony country; at 2 P. M. we reached a deep gully; finding water, encamped.

5 A. M. Advanced at a quick pace sauve qui peut. At 3 P. M. we overtook our 2 absent men and camped, altho' water