four o'clock in the afternoon
Under the advice of Foster Portney , all took it easy in camp that day , in order to reserve their strength for the struggle to come . Even the Indians seemed to grow a bit uneasy concerning what was before them ; for , although they had climbed over the Pass a number of times , they well knew what a rough and highly dangerous proceeding each new trip was likely to be . On this terrible Pass more than one Indian and white man had been lost , never to be heard of again . At last , at exactly four o'clock in the afternoon , Salmon Head announced his readiness to start . As chief of the Indian party , he had looked to it that each carrier 's pack was properly adjusted , and now he gave several directions to the whites to the effect that they should keep together as much as possible and always in sight of his own people . `` Do n't think there be an easy this way or that , '' he said in broken English . `` Indian know best way in the end -- you follow him day and night , or you lost .