Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 11.djvu/403

Peter Skene Ogden Journal, 18274828 373 Wednesday 30th. I fear the man I sent with the Americans has gone off with them. I sent a messenger to the Indian village after him. Thursday 31. The absent man arrived. February 1. Men started with express in quest of McKay. Monday 4th. The 2 Americans who left on 28th unexpectedly made their appearance. Most agreeable to me but a cruel disap- pointment to them. They could only reach the sources of Portneuf River, whence they returned. Wednesday 6th. The Americans again making preparations to start for their depot. From precautions taken they may succeed and reach Salt Lake. This will be their third attempt, and they will have no time to lose if they are to return for the spring hunt. Sunday 10. Men who started in quest of McKay arrived. Again have they failed. Their guide had to return on account of lame- ness. They reached Day's Defile. I am obliged to make an- other attempt. It is impossible to make spring arrangements without McKay's party. My men will start again. The 2 Am- ericans again set out for their cache. It is laughable, so many attempts on both sides and no success. Was it not I feared a strong American party here I shd undertake the jour- ney myself and would succeed. Tuesday 12th Feb. At dawn of day Payette and 2 men set out in quest of Mc- Kay. A war party of Blackfeet has taken the direction of Salt Lake. The Americans left here are alarmed at the news not only on account of the two men but for their camp in that quarter. The Americans have only 24 horses left, the rest dead from cold & of the 50 they brought I have no