During their sojourn at the fort the men were not idle.

They had their saddles, clothing and moccasins to repair.

All their outfit was in the condition of a ship which has just weathered a storm with loss of anchor, sails, spars, and leaking badly.
Having finished their repairs the party, in good condition, with their mules, set out on a hunting expedition.

They were told that in a fertile region, about fifty miles south of them, large herds of buffaloes had recently been seen.

The weather was delightful.