3o8 KIvDORADO 



be sent them as soon as found, the party moved on. 

 it was now necessary that the strongest and best waiK- 

 ers should push ahead with their Haversacks as lull 

 of meat as they could carry them, i now quote from 

 an old journal of one ot the party that, 1 believe, long 

 since passed "Over the Divide ' to the "Golden Chores ' 

 of the new Eldorado in the Great Beyond. 



"Sunday, June 3d. Ihis day several snakes were 

 killed and made mto soup; one had ten rattles, btarted 

 on ahead and kept so lor ten miles when 1 stopped 

 to rest, the main party passing by. bome of the strag- 

 glers urged me on, but i was too tired and camped 

 alone. Monday, 4th. Arose before daybreak and 

 pushed on, eating my fill of prickly pears as i waiKe^.. 

 After crossing a high mountain came to a ravine, in 

 hopes of finding water; found some of the party rest- 

 ing. A note was found directing them down the ra- 

 vine about one and a half miles to water. Here in 

 this ravine we found nuts and plums. This was my 

 worst day's travel, as I was quite lame and hardly 

 able to move along, but perservered. My horse flesh 

 I could not eat. 1 gave it all away, glad to get rid 

 of it. My relish is the prickly pear. Crossed quite a 

 plain and about sunset camped in a ravine alone, the 

 party being all in advance. I laid down and soon fell 

 asleep. I dreamed that I heard guns and the ringing 

 of bells and awoke chilled through. The moon was 

 shining beautifully. I started up and followed the 

 trail increasing my pace to overcome the benumbing 

 effects of the cold. In a short time I thought I saw 

 the ruins of an old building, but it was an illusion ; it 

 proved to be a projecting point of rocks. Passing it, 

 I pressed on in hopes of reaching the camp of the main 



