92 KLDORADO 



our animals, and after finishing the last "home-made 

 bread" purchased of a good Mormon sister, we lay 

 down for a little rest and sleep, of which we had been 

 deprived the previous night. 



In preparation for what we had before us, a distance 

 which was said to be ninety miles over the hot, burn- 

 ing sands, without feed or water, we gathered little 

 bundles of bunch grass to fasten to our pack saddles 

 for our horses when stopping to rest, and also filled our 

 canteens and two or three rubber bags bought for the 

 occasion. Several of the boys who had clung to their 

 yellow oil cloth overalls all the way from Independence 

 Rock, tied up the bottoms of the legs and filled 

 them with water. Without such preparations as we 

 could and did make, we would have shared the fate of 

 some others, and never reached Pilot's Rock. 



We left our noon camp at 2 p. m. Experience had 

 taught us that a moderate gait at the beginning of a 

 long day's journey was the wisest course to pursue. 

 Adopting that plan we traveled until 10 o'clock, mak- 

 ing about twenty-five miles. Coming to a low rocky 

 ridge partly covered with sand, we halted for an 

 hour's rest, unpacked our animals and gave them a lit- 

 tle feed and water. While trying to keep up courage, 

 the stillness and desolation surrounding one on a night 

 travel in the heart of a great desert produces a feeling 

 of awe and sadness hard to shake off, especially when 

 compelled to make ninety miles in a day and 

 night, on foot, with pack animals. It was a bright 

 moonlight night, and we. had little fear of losing the 

 trail. About one hour after midnight we met the re- 

 turning guides on their way to Salt Lake. They were 

 mounted on mules and riding quite leisurely. 



