LIFE SKETCHES OF A JAYHAWKER 65 



some time, but were finally captured in the Coast Range by Harry Love and 

 his party, who came on them while in camp, but Joaquin and Three-Fingered 

 Jack tried to make their escape on their horse, but were both overtaken 

 and shot from their horses and killed, and that was the bandit that I had 

 traveled with all day and didn't know it. I knew then that if I had given 

 him my gun in the creek bed, I would not be here now telling the story. He 

 would kill an American, just because he was an American. 



It will be necessary to go back to the desert again to bring up a few 

 items that I had overlooked. Mirage on the desert oft times had deceived 

 hundreds as it did us at many times. We would be traveling sometimes in 

 an almost famished condition and every step was an effort that tried the 

 most hardy among us, when some one would announce that they could see 

 water ahead at some distance. When our attention was called to it we 

 could all see it plain enough. Could see the lake with the willows growing 

 on the margin and some of the party could see birds swimming on the water, 

 at least they thought so. I could see no birds, but could see the trees plain 

 enough. Each one would quicken his step and new life would be instilled 

 into us that water had been almost reached and how soon now our parched 

 lips and our horrible thirst would be appeased. Soon doubts would begin 

 to rise as we approached t"he spot, where we were so sure we had seen 

 the water. The water had disappeared, trees had dwindled to become little 

 desert shrubs, not four inches high and the birds must have flown. Gloom 

 and disappointment would then take possession which I will not try here to 

 describe, as no pen is adequate for the task. Mirage is sometimes seen on 

 the San Joaquin plain. I have seen it there almost as beautiful and decep- 

 tive as on the desert. Thus along the pathways of the journey of life, oft 

 times our most ardent desires fade away and come to naught. 



CHAPTER XII. 



I don't want to forget to mention about a trip to the Yosemite Valley. 

 Four of us in the party, consisting of my wife and daughter, son-in-law and 

 myself. We drove up and camped out all the time we were gone, which 

 was a month of well spent time. We went via Livermore, Stockton, Chinese 

 Camp, Big Oak Flat, so on to the Yosemite Valley. Soon after entering the 

 Valley, we passed by the great El Capitan and near it and a little further on 

 we came to Yosemite Falls, which is a wonder to behold; the first fall of 

 water is 1100 feet without a break, and then a fall of nine hundred and 

 then another of 400 feet, making 2400 feet in all, and looking at it from a 

 distance you hardly know there is a break in the whole distance. It is cer- 

 tainly the most wonderful sight, especially where there is a good volume of 

 water going over. A little way further on and we came to Sentinel Hotel, 

 and just above the hotel are the comping grounds, where we camped. The 

 next place of interest is Mirror Lake, but you want to visit that before sun- 

 rise to get the benefit of its great beauty. The lights and shadows and 

 the pictures of different colored rocks is perfectly magnificent. You never 

 tire looking at it, as every minute it changes and gives you a different pic- 

 ture. From there you have about a two-mile walk up to the Nevada Falls, 

 where the whole river tumbles down a perpendicular fall of 260 feet without 

 a break. This is a very fascinating sight that one does not get tired of 



