Biographical Notice 



visible, and, perceiving the situation 

 at a glance, charged the Indians with 

 such vigor and speed as to capture 

 two of them and scatter the rest. 

 (The two thus taken were released, 

 because the troops were not strong 

 enough to fight the whole Wallapai 

 tribe, as they would have had to do 

 if they had attempted to hold their 

 prisoners.) There is no doubt that 

 King's presence of mind, coolness and 

 ingenuity saved the lives of his friend 

 and himself. 



In 1866, circumstances led him to 

 resign from the California survey, 

 and to attempt a larger undertaking 

 on his own account. Concerning the 

 reflections and considerations which 

 preceded this step, Mr. Gardiner 

 contributes the following interesting 

 reminiscence : 



" In the summer of 1866 King and 

 I were working together on a survey 



332 



