Stuart and Crooks had vainly endeavored to find a passage.

The river was here a rapid stream, four hundred yards in width, with high sandy banks, and here and there a scanty growth of willow.

Up the southern side of the river they now bent their course, intending to visit the caches made by Mr.Hunt at the Caldron Linn.
On the second evening, a solitary Snake Indian visited their camp, at a late hour, and informed them that there was a white man residing at one of the cantonments of his tribe, about a day's journey higher up the river.

It was immediately concluded that he must be one of the poor fellows of Mr.Hunt's party, who had given out, exhausted by hunger and fatigue, in the wretched journey of the preceding winter.

All present who had borne a part in the sufferings of that journey, were eager now to press forward, and bring relief to a lost comrade.