EIvDORADO 61 



could be ferried across) Captain Hardy suggested to 

 me that we purchase the boat and allow the remainder 

 of our outfit to go forward while we would remain a 

 couple of days, as he expressed it, "and make a nice 

 little stake." To this I assented, and a bargain was 

 soon closed. The price paid was $50. The ownership 

 of the boat had descended, not "from father to son," 

 but by purchase from the one who first constructed it 

 in regular succession to the present ownership. 



I would give soniething to know what ever became 

 of that unique relic of emigration of fifty years ago. 

 Tf it was replaced b\- something more modern and 

 turned adrift from the place where it so faithfully 

 served its day and generation could it have made the 

 passage of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado and 

 reached the waters of the Gulf of California or was it 

 wrecked by the way, as so many of those were whom 

 it served and helped to reach the land of gold in '49 

 and '50? 



The boys bade us goodbye, and started on their jour- 

 ney, while we took up the paddles and commenced our 

 .=;elf-assumed task. At the end of two days' hard work 

 we sold our boat. After taking account of stock and 

 of profit and loss we found ourselves $50 ahead. 

 Shouldering our blankets and the small amount of 

 ■'grub" we had retained for our own use. we started to 

 overtake our comrades. As we could travel twice the 

 distance usually made bv pack animals, we expected to 

 reach them on the fourth day. We found them, how- 

 ever, at Fort Bridger awaiting our arrival. We were 

 congratulated on the result of our little liusiness enter- 

 l^rise. Dividing the result of our labor gave $5.00 to 

 each man. 



