Page:The Columbia river , or, Scenes and adventures during a residence of six years on the western side of the Rocky Mountains among various tribes of Indians hitherto unknown (Volume 1).djvu/107

 although they always fled on perceiving them, left their horses behind. The party were obliged to kill a few of these animals, and in payment for them, left some goods near their owners' huts.

After a separation of some days the two parties came in sight of each other; and Mr. Hunt had a canoe made out of the skin of a horse, in which he sent some meat over to his famishing friends. He also suggested the idea of their crossing over in the canoe one by one to the south side, where they would, at all events, have a better chance of escaping death by starvation. This was readily agreed to; but the attempt was unfortunately unsuccessful. One of the best swimmers embarked in the canoe, but it had scarcely reached the centre of the river when, owing to the impetuosity of the current, it upset, and the poor voyageur sunk to rise no more.

Finding the impracticability of their reunion by this means, they continued to pursue their respective courses, and in a few days after Mr. M'Kenzie's party fell on a considerable river, which they subsequently ascertained to be Lewis' River. Here they met a tribe of friendly Indians, from whom they purchased several horses, and with renovated spirits they pursued their journey