62 A CALIFORNIA TRAMP. 



by us at noon, came up with us about the middle of the 

 afternoon, and endeavored to pass us. Resolving not to 

 suffer the disgrace of being driven around, without some effort 

 to maintain our dignity, we essayed to inspire with blows and 

 yells fresh energy into our failing oxen. Vain our efforts. 

 As the locomotive dashes by the canalboat, so did our rivals, 

 with their superior teams, glide by us. This was a provoking 

 spectacle, but circumstances obliged us to endure the sight of 

 it. As our rivals had the right of way as soon as they were 

 broadside of us, we stopped and waited until they had moved 

 out of our way, when we humbly followed in their rear. We 

 encamped at night on a broad, well grassed flat, about half a 

 mile from the river, a short distance from our rivals. We en- 

 deavored to get the start of the latter the next morning, but we 

 missed it. Our road was sandy enough at starting, but it be- 

 came worse as we advanced, and as the rays of the sun beat 

 down incessantly and hotly, our oxen were continually giving 

 out. Our route led us over an uneven bluff at some distance 

 from the shore, and tediously working over the deep sand, we 

 came at noon to the top of a precipitous steep leading down to 

 the bottom of the river. After descending this we corralled 

 for the day, in order to rest our weary animals, which we took 

 across the river to graze, the grass on the south shore of the 

 Platte having been eaten off close by trains in advance of us. 

 (August 19th.) Owing to a heavy rain which fell last night 

 and hardened the sand, our road to-day was considerably bet- 

 ter than yesterday, so that we made good progress. While en- 

 camped at noon, a homeward bound train from Fort Laramie 

 passed us, stopping long enough, however, to make an ex- 

 change of some wagons and oxen. The next day, in the fore- 

 noon, we came in sight of the Court House Rock. This natu- 

 ral curiosity is situated about nine miles south of the road, but 

 owing to the dry and pure atmosphere of this region, it does 

 not appear to be more than two or three. It is apparently about 



