CHAPTER XXXIII.
Gloomy Council .-- Exploring Parties--Discouraging Reports-- Disastrous Experiment .-- Detachments in Quest of Succor .-- Caches, How Made .-- Return of One of the Detachments-- Unsuccessful .-- Further Disappointments--The Devil's Scuttle-Hole MR.

HUNT and his companions encamped upon the borders of the Caldron Linn, and held gloomy counsel as to their future course.

The recent wreck had dismayed even the voyageurs, and the fate of their popular comrade, Clappine, one of the most adroit and experienced of their fraternity, had struck sorrow to their hearts, for with all their levity, these thoughtless beings have great kindness towards each other.
The whole distance they had navigated since leaving Henry's Fort was computed to be about three hundred and forty miles; strong apprehensions were now entertained that the tremendous impediments before them would oblige them to abandon their canoes.

It was determined to send exploring parties on each side of the river to ascertain whether it was possible to navigate it further.

Accordingly, on the following morning, three men were despatched along the south bank, while Mr.Hunt and three others proceeded along the north.