1889.] Silver Lake of Oregon. 973 
would lead me to water. I followed it, say ten miles, and the 
sun was just going down when to my delight I came on the 
banks of a cold stream, which I afterwards found was Silver 
Creek. Horse and I enjoyed a good drink, and I started again. 
In a few miles I reached the Eugene road, and found a house. 
The Indian's sketch had not been correct, for I now knew where 
I was. I asked for pasture for the horse, but could get no satis- 
faction, the grass of the creek bottom being fenced in. I, how- 
ever, crossed the creek, passed through a fence, and followed the 
creek behind a thick growth of willows. I pastured my horse 
in good grass, and got a nook near the water for a camp. I 
hunted wood and made a fire, as it was getting cold, and then I 
opened my provisions. I cut the can of tomatoes and broke my 
hard biscuit in it, and set it on the coals. Then I cut some 
slices of bacon, and put them on top of the tomato can, which 
had to serve as a frying-pan. It didn't fry very fast, but finally 
all was ready, and with a saddle-blanket for a chair, a newspaper for 
a table, and a biscuit for a plate, I ate a good supper with a great 
appetite. I had ridden forty-five or fifty miles, and was tired. I 
soon got into my blankets, but didn't get to sleep as soon as I 
wished. A pair of small (?) owls took a position near, and cried 
continually. They were driven ofif by a pair of huge owls 
which screamed like a wagon-wheel without grease, horribly, and 
flew close over my face on a tour of inspection. However, I en- 
joyed a delightful sleep at last, and woke up early, ate some cold 
tomatoes, and got on the road. After eight miles through the 
