ELDORADO 129 



Shortly before noon we reached the main road that 

 we should have taken at the summit, and at nightfall 

 arrived at Leek Springs, 25 miles above Placerville, 

 where a trading post and a place of entertainment was 

 kept by Americans. Here we obtained a meal such as 

 "our mothers used to cook." We were now in Califor- 

 nia, and one more day's travel would complete our five 

 months' overland journey "across the plains seeking the 

 golden fleece." Having passed successfully through 

 its many perils and hardships, now what of the future? 

 Time alone would tell. 



Leaving the springs at an early hour by a gradual 

 descent over a comparatively good wagon road, 20 

 miles brought us to Johnson's ranch, which consisted 

 of a double log and shake house, kept as a trading post 

 chiefly to supply the miners with tools and provisions. 

 It also had, in addition, a dining room and sleeping 

 accommodations, which latter consisted of bunks ar- 

 ranged against the wall one above another. Although 

 desirous of obtaining a square meal and sleeping: again 

 in a white man's house, I had to forego that pleasure, 

 as upon taking account of mv financial resources I 

 found $.^ constituted mv entire capital, besides mv 

 ponv, pack saddle, blankets, coffee pot. and frying pan. 

 Consequentlv I submitted to the inevitable, p'*eoa»"ed 

 mv suDper in the usual wav. and spread mv blankets 

 for a bed under a fricndlv pine tree. Several miners 

 from the south fork of the American river, about one 

 mile distant, also passed the night there. Among them 

 was one who claimed to have made a rich strike on a 

 certain "bar." and exhibited several gold specimens, 

 one of the value of three ounces, or about $50. For a 



