Rockfellow and two other packers rode back to the scene of the robbery, where, striking Marshland’s trail, they followed it, searching for him till eleven o’clock. He admitted afterwards, when captured, that they were at one time within fifteen feet of him. They found, scattered along the route, all the packages of greenbacks he had taken. He gained nothing by his attack, was badly wounded, froze both his feet on his retreat to Deer Lodge, and lost his horse, arms, and provisions. Both of Dutch John’s hands were frozen, but he was fortunate in meeting J. X. Beidler, who bound them up for him, not knowing at the time the villain’s occupation. “X,” as he is called by all the mountaineers, always accounted this kindly act to the retreating ruffian as a stroke of bad fortune. “Had I only known,” says he when telling the story, “I would have bandaged his hands with something stronger than a handkerchief.” The serious part of the transaction being over, our wayfarers had abundant sport for the remainder of their long journey, in determining the rights of the respective claimants to the booty. Forbes claimed Marshland’s horse and accoutrements, because it was his shot that caused the robber to take flight. Moody insisted upon his right to an equal share, in compensation for the wounds he gave Dutch John. The two teamsters set up a claim, upon the principle that all ships in sight are entitled to a share in the prize. If steersmen represented schooners at sea, teamsters were the proper representatives of “prairie schooners.” The subject was debated at every camp made on the journey, and finally determined by electing a judge from their number, impanelling a jury, and going through all the forms of a regular trial. The verdict gave Forbes the possession of the property on payment of thirty dollars to Moody, and twenty dollars to each of the teamsters. The party arrived at Salt Lake City without further molestation. CHAPTER XXIX GEORGE IVES