Expedition to Oregon Desert 153 



did, saw the Indians, in anger, level their rifles as 

 they shouted to us to stop. 



That race with darkness was an exciting one, 

 but just before night overtook us, we reached the 

 trail which we had left to follow the lying Indian 

 boy. In our haste, our bread had been torn from its 

 sack by the outstretched limb of a tree, and was lost. 

 However, we were so thankful to have escaped 

 paying toll to those filthy Snakes, that we cheer- 

 fully made our supper of coffee, and sought our 

 blankets. 



At the first streak of daylight, after another meal 

 of coffee, we were in our saddles ; and we traveled 

 all day, until, just as the sun was setting, we heard 

 the welcome bleat of sheep and saw the herders 

 driving their flocks down the slopes of the neigh- 

 boring hills to their corrals in Sican Valley. Fol- 

 lowing them, we soon spied the camp in the heavy 

 timber and smelled the delicious savor of a pot of 

 mutton that was boiling over the fire. And before 

 long, seated at the rude table, we were enjoying to 

 the uttermost the hospitality of the camp. 



We had learned on the journey that Sprague 

 River rises in the heart of the mountains, instead of 

 in Silver Lake, and we had crossed the divide be- 

 tween it and the lake before reaching Sican Valley. 

 The next morning our sheepmen directed us on our 

 way; and that same evening we were skirting the 



