EIvDORADO 89 



CHAPTER IX. 



TRAVEL RESUMED. 



The river Jordan, on which "we boys" made our 

 camp, is from ten to fifteen yards wide, and is a beau- 

 tiful stream of clear, fresh water, from which we sup- 

 plied ourselves with plenty of trout and other varieties 

 of fish. It rises in Utah lake, a large body of fresh 

 water forty miles to the south. 



Our three weeks in camp were pleasantly and profit- 

 ably spent. Our animals were greatly improved and 

 we were in condition to undertake the most difficult 

 part of our journey, which would require about two 

 months to complete. 



A grave problem now presented itself in regard to 

 the best, safest and most expeditious route. Opinions 

 differed. The best-known and most traveled one was 

 around the north end of the lake, across Bear river, 

 thence to Goose creek, a tributary of the Columbia, and 

 to the sources of the Humboldt, following down that 

 stream, which seemed to promise both feed and water. 

 Another, of which but little knowledge could be ob- 

 tained, and was but little traveled, except occasionally 

 by mountaineers, known as a "cut-off," went by the 

 south end of the lake, across the upper portion of the 

 Great American desert to Walker's lake, and thence to 



