ot an article of clothing remains; the
ants and birds must have carried that off."

"Heaven grant that his fate may not be ours!" I could not help mentally
exclaiming.

Mudge having looked round the ledge, and taken a glance along the
valley, now rejoined me. We had no time to lose, and were glad to get
away from the remains of the unhappy man and his steed. The powder-horn
was empty; and as we did not wish to add to the weight of our knapsacks,
we left that and the other articles, with the exception of my knife,
which I put in my pocket. We were very doubtful at times whether any
horse could get over the rough ground along which we made our way.

At last, night approaching, we were obliged to encamp in a wild and
desolate spot, the least satisfactory we had as yet stopped at. The
only shelter we could find was under an overhanging rock; such bushes as
we could see not affording us the means of building a hut or putting up
any protection against the night wind, which blew keenly across the
heights. We managed, however, to cut a sufficient quantity of dry wood
to light a fire, at which to boil the tea-kettle and cook our last
remaining bird. It was somewhat high, but we ate a portion
notwithstanding, reserving some for breakfast next morning. We had now
only a few mouthfuls of water at the bottom of our bottles, and, as far
as we could judge from the appearance of the country to the southward,
which presented a succession of rocky heights, it might be long before
we could replenish our store. We had still, however, some preserved
meat and flour and a small quantity of biscuit, which we had hitherto
carefully husbanded; and we hoped before that was exhausted to get into
a region where game and fruits of some sort could be found. We did not,
therefore, allow our spirits to be depressed. It was a great thing to
be conscious that we were performing an important duty; and I especially
felt very thankful that my mother and Edith had not been induced to
attempt crossing the mountains on foot before we had explored the way.

The place we had chosen was, at all events, dry enough, and we hoped, by
creeping close under the rock, not to suffer much from the cold.

Having said our prayers,--which, I may here observe, we always did both
morning and evening,--we recommended ourselves to the care of our
heavenly Father, and fearlessly lay down to rest.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

JOURNEY ACROSS THE MOUNTAIN-RANGE--WE MOUNT