88       RETURN MARCH-RUDE BURIAL SERVICE.



had the rope in his hand, swam ahead holding on to his
horse's mane. In this way, dancing like a cork on the
waves, the lodge was piloted across; and passengers as
well as freight consigned, undamaged, to the opposite
shore. A large camp of three hundred men, and one
hundred women and children were frequently thus crossed
in one hour's time.
  The camp was now in the excellent but inhospitable
country of the Blackfeet, and the commander redoubled
his precautions, moving on all the while to the Mussel Shell,
and thence to the Judith River. Beaver were plenty
and game abundant; but the vicinity of the large village
of the Blackfeet made trapping impracticable. Their
war upon the trappers was ceaseless; their thefts of traps
and horses ever recurring: and Smith, finding that to re-
main was to be involved in incessant warfare, without
hope of victory or gain, at length gave the command to
turn back, which was cheerfully obeyed: for the trappers
had been very successful on the spring hunt, and thinking
discretion some part at least of valor, were glad to get
safe out of the Blackfoot country with their rich harvest
of beaver skins.
  The return march was by the way of Pryor's Gap, and
up the Bighorn, to Wind River, where the cache was
made in the previous December. The furs were now
taken out and pressed, ready for transportation across the
plains. A party was also dispatched, under Mr. Tullock,
to raise the cache on the Bighorn River. Among this
party was Meek, and a Frenchman named Ponto. While
digging to come at the fur, the bank above caved in, fal-
ling upon Meek and Ponto, killing the latter almost in-
stantly. Meek, though severely hurt, was taken out alive:
while poor Ponto was "rolled in a blanket, and pitched
into the river." So rude were the burial services of the
trapper of the Rocky Mountains.