however, he came to the Fort, he found there a party
of forty men about to make the homeward journey. He wisely preferred to
avail himself of so strong an escort. Mr. Sublette and his companions
also set out, in order to overtake this company; so that on reaching
Bent's Fort, some six weeks after, we found ourselves deserted by our
allies and thrown once more upon our own resources.

But I am anticipating. When, before leaving the settlement we had made
inquiries concerning this part of the country of General Kearny, Mr.
Mackenzie, Captain Wyeth, and others well acquainted with it, they had
all advised us by no means to attempt this southward journey with
fewer than fifteen or twenty men. The danger consists in the chance of
encountering Indian war parties. Sometimes throughout the whole length
of the journey (a distance of 350 miles) one does not meet a single
human being; frequently, however, the route is beset by Arapahoes and
other unfriendly tribes; in which case the scalp of the adventurer is in
imminent peril. As to the escort of fifteen or twenty men, such a force
of whites could at that time scarcely be collected by the whole country;
and had the case been otherwise, the expense of securing them, together
with the necessary number of horses, would have been extremely heavy. We
had resolved, however, upon pursuing this southward course. There were,
indeed, two other routes from Fort Laramie; but both of these were less
interesting, and neither was free from danger. Being unable therefore to
procure the fifteen or twenty men recommended, we determined to set out
with those we had already in our employ, Henry Chatillon, Delorier, and
Raymond. The men themselves made no objection, nor would they have made
any had the journey been more dangerous; for Henry was without fear, and
the other two without thought.

Shaw and I were much better fitted for this mode of traveling than we
had been on betaking ourselves to the prairies for the first time a few
months before. The daily routine had ceased to be a novelty. All the
details of the journey and the camp had become familiar to us. We had
seen life under a new aspect; the human biped had been reduced to his
primitive condition. We had lived without law to protect, a roof to
shelter, or garment of cloth to cover us. One of us at least had been
without bread, and without salt to season his food. Our idea of what
is indispensable to human existence and enjoyment had been