The next morning, utilizing some 8-o treble hooks, we improvised a grapple with which to drag the river for the tablet.  The hooks were too light for the purpose, but we had no better material at hand.  The tablet, when lost, was wrapped, and well bound with ropes.  We were well aware that even should we thus succeed in locating the tablet, our frail device would not be sufficiently strong to bring it to the surface; but we believed that, with the location of the tablet once established, some method might be found for its rescue.

With our grappling arrangement well weighted, we began a systematic dragging of the river, beginning at a point where the accident happened, and continuing for a considerable distance down stream.  It soon became evident, however, that our efforts in this direction must prove futile.  In spite of weights, we were unable, in the swifter water, to force the hooks to the bottom, and nothing less would answer.  Two hours were spent in vain endeavor, however, before we finally acknowledged ourselves defeated.

Disappointed in this direction, we made a survey of the river, with the hope that we might now carry into execution Judge Malone’s plan for deviating the current, but we were quickly convinced that any attempt in this direction would consume more time than we had at our disposal.  Boulders heavy enough to hold their position against the force of water were too heavy to move save by tedious and slow effort; and we had neither sufficient rope, nor rope that was strong enough, to be used in the construction of a derrick.

Defeated in these efforts for the rescue of the tablet, we returned to camp to hold council, and consider other possible methods and plans; but no practical method by which the tablet might be recovered presented itself, and our discussion ended with the decision that we must accept as gracefully as possible our loss.  We still had the cold chisels, drills and hammer, which were to have been used in setting the tablet, and I suggested that with these we proceed to the scene of Hubbard’s last camp and cut an inscription into the face of the rock upon which we had hoped to place the tablet.  This it was finally decided to do.  Judge Malone, always looking upon the brighter side of things, and making the best of circumstances, expressed the opinion:

“After all, an inscription cut upon the rock will be a more appropriate memorial, I believe, than the bronze tablet would have been.”

Next: Chapter XXVI: Indians Have Plenty Of Hard Times