This proved a long task, so with the pack-mules he pushed on, leaving the waggons to come later.

Antoine Leroux was the guide.

When they reached the place he had selected for a camp and had unpacked the mules, it was found that the water could not be approached because of the abruptness of the washed-out bank, so they were compelled to saddle again and go on toward the fort, though they had been riding since one o'clock in the morning.
* Personal Narrative of Exploration, by John Russell Bartlett.
They were finally stopped altogether by a bayou and had to wait for a boat from the fort with which to cross it.

When they came finally to the crossing of the river itself to the Arizona side they had a slow and difficult time of it.

Sometimes the scow they used failed to reach the landing-place on the other side and the strong current would then sweep it two or three miles down the river before the men could get it to the shore.