Two rifles and a shotgun were given to the men who were leaving, but their share of the rations they refused to take, being sure they could secure all the game they required.

Their calculations were correct enough, and they would have arrived at the settlements had not an unforeseen circumstance prevented.

When the river party were ready to start the three deserters helped lift the two boats over a high rock and down past the first fall.

Then they parted.

Powell wrote a letter to his wife which Howland took, Sumner gave him his watch with directions that it be sent to his sister in the event of the river party being annihilated, and the duplicate records of the trip were separated, one set being given to Howland, who at the last begged them not to go on down the river, assuring them that a few miles more of such river as that now ahead of them would consume the last of the scant rations and then it would be too late to try to escape.