I wrote to him to send the animals immediately back to their old pastures; and, after having made mauls and shovels, turn in all the strength of his party to open and beat a road through the snow, strengthening it with branches and boughs of the pines.
"February 12 .-- We made mauls, and worked hard at our end of the road all the day.

The wind was high, but the sun bright, and the snow thawing.

We worked down the face of the hill, to meet the people at the other end.
Towards sundown it began to grow cold, and we shouldered our mauls, and trudged back to camp.
"February 13 .-- We continued to labor on the road; and in the course of the day had the satisfaction to see the people working down the face of the opposite hill, about three miles distant.

During the morning we had the pleasure of a visit from Mr.Fitzpatrick, with the information that all was going on well.

A party of Indians had passed on snowshoes, who said they were going to the western side of the mountain after fish.
This was an indication that the salmon were coming up the streams; and we could hardly restrain our impatience as we thought of them, and worked with increased vigor.
"I was now perfectly satisfied that we had struck the stream on which Mr.Sutter lived, and turning about, made a hard push, and reached the camp at dark.