104 ELDORADO 



ly arrived when we expected to reach CaHfornia, viz.. 

 three weeks after leaving Salt Lake City. No trace of 

 a packer or other emigrants had been seen lor several 

 days. We were alone in an unknown country, with no 

 guide to our destination but the points of the compass 

 indicated by the sun and stars. 



It was finally, and unanimously, agreed that the wid- 

 est course was to follow the range to the south, until 

 an opening was discovered by which we could continue 

 our westerly course. Making about our usual day's 

 travel of twenty miles, we rested for the night with but 

 little change from the previous one, keeping careful 

 guard over our horses, as Indians had been seen on the 

 mountain side watching us from a distance, which was 

 indicative of an unfriendly disposition. The uncer- 

 tainty of our position and the time that might be re- 

 quired to reach California, and the fact that our provis- 

 ions also were nearly exhausted, decided us to go on 

 short rations rather than none at all later on. So it 

 was determined that one good-sized pancake, a small 

 slice of bacon, and a pint of coffee should constitute a 

 "square meal" until further orders. 



While stopping for our noon rest on the following 

 day, I climbed the mountain side, possibly one-half 

 mile, to get a view of the surrounding country. I 

 noticed the glittering appearance of what seemed to be 

 boulders. My curiosity was aroused, and on closer ex- 

 amination I discovered that they were large blocks of 

 mica, from which I was enabled to remove perfectly 

 transparent sheets from ten to fifteen inches square. I 

 have no knowledge whether that locality has ever since 

 been visited by civilized man. 



The mountain side had a volcanic appearance, and 



