Chapter 15

15.

A hunt after hunters Hungry times A voracious repast Wintry

weather Godin's River Splendid winter scene on the great Lava

Plain of Snake River Severe travelling and tramping in the

snow Manoeuvres of a solitary Indian horseman Encampment on Snake

River Banneck Indians The horse chief His charmed life.

THE continued absence of Matthieu and his party had, by this

time, caused great uneasiness in the mind of Captain Bonneville;

and, finding there was no dependence to be placed upon the

perseverance and courage of scouting parties in so perilous a

quest, he determined to set out himself on the search, and to

keep on until he should ascertain something of the object of his

solicitude.

Accordingly on the 20th December he left the camp, accompanied by

thirteen stark trappers and hunters, all well mounted and armed

for dangerous enterprise. On the following morning they passed

out at the head of the mountain gorge and sallied forth into the

open plain. As they confidently expected a brush with the

Blackfeet, or some other predatory horde, they moved with great

circumspection, and kept vigilant watch in their encampments.

In the course of another day they left the main branch of Salmon

River, and proceeded south toward a pass called John Day's

defile. It was severe and arduous travelling. The plains were

swept by keen and bitter blasts of wintry wind; the ground was

generally covered with snow, game was scarce, so that hunger

generally prevailed in the camp, while the want of pasturage soon

began to manifest itself in the declining vigor of the horses.

The party had scarcely encamped on the afternoon of the 28th,

when two of the hunters who had sallied forth in quest of game

came galloping back in great alarm. While hunting they had

perceived a party of savages, evidently manoeuvring to cut them

off from the camp; and nothing had saved them from being

entrapped but the speed of their horses.

These tidings struck dismay into the camp. Captain Bonneville

endeavored to reassure his men by representing the position of

their encampment, and its capability of defence. He then ordered

the horses to be driven in and picketed, and threw up a rough

breastwork of fallen trunks of trees and the vegetable rubbish of

the wilderness. Within this barrier was maintained a vigilant

watch throughout the night, which passed away without alarm. At

early dawn they scrutinized the surrounding plain, to discover

whether any enemies had been lurking about during the night; not

a foot-print, however, was to be discovered