44 THE BRIDLE BITS. 



of his mule to any man who would recapture her. As 

 there was pleasure and i:)robable prout ia the enterprise, 

 we arranged with the captain to ride o£c next day in search 

 of the band to see what could be done. The history of 

 the horses and the numerous attemiDts made by different 

 companies to capture them was related by Binnix as we 

 rode over the plains^ where a large herd of antelope 

 seemed surprised at our intrusion. 



Towards evening we came in sight of the horses, which 

 were some four miles off and moving on a path at right 

 angles with our course. We both dismounted, and with 

 our horses and a Newfoundland dog took a direction 

 several points to their front, so as to meet them rather 

 than follow in their track, for the wind at the time would 

 be favorable to our detection. Makins^ no usual show of 

 a desire to chase them we got within a mile of their 

 course, when we left our horses in charge of the dog and 

 approached within 500 yards of them, alone. All at once 

 the band faced to the front, and turning short around 

 dashed off, enveloped in clouds of dust. On returning 

 to Binnix, the first thing he said was, "Well, what do 

 you think of it ?" We mounted and as we rode towards 

 home we came to a wet, gravelly place where the water 

 from a gorge in the foot hills ran down into the plain 

 and meeting a concealed bar of brick clay rose to the 

 surface, passed over the bar, sank, and was seen no more. 

 The Honcut creek meanders through this part of the 

 plains and discharges into the Feather River near tbe But- 

 tes ; but although there was not water enough at the bar 

 to afford a satisfactory drink, all the animals of the plain 

 called there and pawed holes in the wet gravel and passed 

 on down to the Honcut to quench their thirst. .We dug 

 a hole in the gravel and when it was full watered our 

 horses. We said to Binnix : ^*If you will come here this 

 day two weeks we will give you your mule." He smiled, 

 but a^T^reed to come. He went home and we to Marvsville. 



