238 EAST PRUSSIA TO THE GOLDEN GATE 



may imagine that it did not take us long to get the much 

 needed food and nerve tonics; that reinvigorated 

 us, and after half an hour rest we started again in better 

 spirits. Two or three times more we mired down, but 

 finally we reached a deserted and half-ruined loghouse, 

 about two miles beyond Grass Valley. It was on dry 

 ground, half hidden under trees and bushes on the bank 

 of a creek of clear, cold water; and there being good pas- 

 ture for our cattle, we pitched our camp. 



Kothrock, after a consultation with us, concluded to 

 walk across the mountains to " Onion Valley," distant 

 about twelve miles, and from there to send mules for half 

 of our load; we— after the oxen were rested— to push on 

 with the other half in the same direction. 



The first thing for us to do was— as you may imagine — 

 to kindle an immense fire, to divest ourselves of our cloth- 

 ing (except our flannel shirts) — in other words, to take 

 off our boots and trousers and to dry them. At the same 

 time we provided for our dinner, putting on a large ket- 

 tle with meat and another with potatoes, and while these 

 were singing cheerfully, we stretched ourselves at full 

 length upon the dry soft grass, dressed in the most mod- 

 ern Indian costume (i. e., shirts) — trying to get on one 

 side as much heat as possible from a brisk fire, while the 

 other side was exposed to the warming rays of the sun. 



You can hardJy imagine the exceedingly pleasant feel- 

 ing I experienced now that for the first time in thirty-six 

 hours I was again dressed warmly and comfortably, and 

 had enjoyed a good hot dinner. But not only that, the 

 surrounding country looked so bright, bathed as it was 

 in the warm sunshine; the snow on the sides of the valley, 

 which was here only half a mile wide, contrasted so beau- 

 tifully with the bright green of the sprouting grass and 

 the dark firs; the birds sang merrily and the very beetles 

 were out on a picnic; a feeling of happiness, of delight, 

 stole over me. After a nap — I alone could not sleep, be- 

 cause I had to think on this day a great deal of my be- 

 loved ones at home— we began to explore the deserted 

 house, near which we had made our halt. It had evi- 



