William  Ckak;  Ai  kxamu  i:  i.  i  riti.F.i^nN

COMMISSIONKR   CUMMIN*.    ANI>    I  NIKKl'kl.  llkS


GOVERNOR  STEVENS  ASSERTS  HIMSELF  119

With  this  parting  shot  the  governor  bade  a  heartfelt
farewell  to  the  pretentious  incapable,  who  had  so  nearly
wrecked  the  cooncil,  and  added  so  much  to  his  labors
and  perplexities.  Gumming  started  down  the  river  on
one  of  the  boats  on  the  23d.
CHAPTER  XXXIV

OBOSSINO    THE    MOUNTAINS    IN    MIDWINTER.  —  SURPBISE
OF  THE   OCEXJB   d'aLENES   AND   SPOKANES

Haying  made  a  good  riddance  of  his  troublesome  col-
league, and  seen  the  Indians  depart  their  several  ways
with  much  hand-shaking  and  many  expressions  of  g^ood-
will  and  satisfaction,  the  governor  and  his  little  party
packed  up  and  started  on  the  24th,  and  reached  Fort
Benton  the  following  day.  Two  days  were  spent  here
preparing  for  the  long  return  journey  across  the  moun-
tains ;  for  the  animals  were  well  worn  by  the  hard  express
service  of  the  summer,  and  it  was  necessary  to  lighten
loads  as  much  as  possible.  On  October  28  the  home-
ward start  was  made ;  the  party  moved  over  to  and  up
the  Teton,  continued  up  that  stream  the  29th,  and  went
into  camp  thirty-five  miles  from  the  fort.
Supper  was  just  over,  and  the  men  were  gathering
around  the  camp-fires,  for  the  evening  was  frosty,  when
a  lone  horseman  was  discerned  in  the  twilight  slowly
making  his  way  over  the  plains  towards  the  camp,  and
soon  Pearson  rode  in,  or  rather  staggered  in,  for  his
horse  was  utterly  exhausted,  and  tottered  as  it  walked.
