Sometimes the difficulty of going forward was so great that we were obliged to retrace our steps and make our way round the head of the marsh, thus adding to the discomforts of our situation by the conviction that, while journeying diligently, we were, in fact, making very little progress.
This swampy region at length passed, we came upon more solid ground, chiefly the open prairie.

But now a new trouble assailed us.

The weather had moderated, and a blinding snow-storm came on.

Without a trail that we could rely upon, and destitute of a compass, our only dependence had been the sun to point out our direction; but the atmosphere was now so obscure that it was impossible to tell in what quarter of the heavens he was.
We pursued our way, however, and a devious one it must have been.

After travelling in this way many miles, we came upon an Indian trail, deeply indented, running at right angles with the course we were pursuing.