CHAPTER XXXVII.
Departure From Snake River--Mountains to the North .-- Wayworn Travellers--An Increase of the Dorion Family .-- A Camp of Shoshonies .-- A New-Year Festival Among the Snakes .-- A Wintry March Through the Mountains .-- A Sunny Prospect, and Milder Climate .-- Indian Horse-Tracks .-- Grassy Valleys .-- A Camp of Sciatogas .-- Joy of the Travellers.-Dangers of Abundance .-- Habits of the Sciatogas .-- Fate of Carriere .-- The Umatilla .-- Arrival at the Banks of the Columbia .-- Tidings of the Scattered Members of the Expedition .-- Scenery on the Columbia .-- Tidings of Astoria-Arrival at the Falls.
ON the 24th of December, all things being arranged, Mr.Hunt turned his back upon the disastrous banks of Snake River, and struck his course westward for the mountains.

His party, being augmented by the late followers of Mr.Crooks, amounted now to thirty-two white men, three Indians, and the squaw and two children of Pierre Dorion.

Five jaded, half-starved horses were laden with their luggage, and, in case of need, were to furnish them with provisions.

They travelled painfully about fourteen miles a day, over plains and among hills, rendered dreary by occasional falls of snow and rain.

Their only sustenance was a scanty meal of horse flesh once in four-and-twenty hours.
On the third day the poor Canadian, Carriere, one of the famished party of Mr.Crooks, gave up in despair, and laying down upon the ground declared he could go no further.