ELDORADO 51 



all would be in a profound sleep, and the rain patter- 

 ing in cur faces or our water soaked blankets would 

 awaken us. Under those conditions a fire was out of 

 the question, and we had to make the best of the cir- 

 cumstances. Nevertheless, we continued in the best of 

 health and spirits. 



From this time until our arrival in the Salt Lake 

 Valley we ceased to stand guard, as the cnly Indians 

 we met with were friendly Snakes and Crows. 



As we approached the South Pass, through which all 

 the travel to the Pacific Coast had to go, we entered a 

 gradually ascending wooded canyon, crossing and re- 

 crossing many times tributaries to the Sweetwater 

 rive'' caused by the melting snows and numerous 

 springs above. The many cascades and waterfalls 

 made most delightful music to our ears, weary and 

 duststained as we were, and was in striking contrast to 

 what we had experienced ever since we began our jour- 

 ney. From the elevated open spaces we could look 

 back upon the bare and barren plains below. 



The change to the cold, sparkling mountain water 

 and green patches of the wholesome and nutritious 

 grass was a most grateful one to our animals as well as 

 to ourselves. 



Two days' travel up the gradual and not very pre- 

 cipitous side of the Rockies brought us to the pass, 

 which we reached on Juh- 3. A light snow storm pre- 

 vailed during the day. This depression in the mount- 

 ains which separates the waters of the Atlantic and the 

 I^acific is about twenty miles wide from north to south, 

 and, with some slight elevations, it presents the appear- 

 ance of a level plain with towering mountains covered 

 with perpetual snow on both sides. There are no trees 



