There was a species of large fir, but so full of knots as to endanger the axe in hewing it.

After searching for some time, a growth of timber, of sufficient size, was found lower down the river, whereupon the encampment was moved to the vicinity.
The men were now set to work to fell trees, and the mountains echoed to the unwonted sound of their axes.

While preparations were thus going on for a voyage down the river, Mr.Hunt, who still entertained doubts of its practicability, despatched an exploring party, consisting of John Reed, the clerk, John Day, the hunter, and Pierre Dorion, the interpreter, with orders to proceed several days' march along the stream, and notice its course and character.
After their departure, Mr.Hunt turned his thoughts to another object of importance.

He had now arrived at the head waters of the Columbia, which were among the main points embraced by the enterprise of Mr.Astor.
These upper streams were reputed to abound in beaver, and had as yet been unmolested by the white trapper.

The numerous signs of beaver met with during the recent search for timber gave evidence that the neighborhood was a good "trapping ground." Here, then, it was proper to begin to cast loose those leashes of hardy trappers, that are detached from trading parties, in the very heart of the wilderness.