At four miles we came to a single house of three families, but could not procure provisions of any kind; and five miles further we halted for the night near another house, built like the rest, of sticks, mats, and dried hay, and containing six families.

It was now so difficult to procure anything to eat that our chief dependence was on the horse which we received yesterday for medicine; but to our great disappointment he broke the rope by which he was confined, made his escape, and left us supperless in the rain." Next day they met an Indian who brought them two canisters of powder, which they at once knew to be some of that which they had buried last autumn.

The Indian said that his dog had dug it up in the meadow by the river, and he had restored it to its rightful owners.

As a reward for his honesty, the captains gave him a flint and steel for striking fire; and they regretted that their own poverty prevented them from being more liberal to the man.
They observed that the Rocky Mountains, now in full sight, were still covered with snow, and the prospect of crossing them was not very rosy.
Their Chopunnish guide told them that it would be impossible to cross the mountains before the next full moon, which would be about the first of June.

The journal adds: "To us, who are desirous of reaching the plains of the Missouri--if for no other reason, for the purpose of enjoying a good meal--this intelligence was by no means welcome, and gave no relish to the remainder of the horse killed at Colter's Creek, which formed our supper, as part of which had already been our dinner." Next day, accordingly, the hunters turned out early in the morning, and before noon returned with four deer and a duck, which, with the remains of horse-beef on hand, gave them a much more plentiful stock of provisions than had lately fallen to their lot.