The rescuers, seven in number, who had followed instructions given them at the settlement, professed to have no knowledge of the Forlorn Hope, except that this first relief expedition had been outfitted by Captain Sutter and Alcalde Sinclair in response to Mr. Eddy’s appeal, and that other rescue parties were being organized in California, and would soon come prepared to carry out the remaining children and helpless grown folk.  By this we knew that Mr. Eddy, at least, had succeeded in reaching the settlement.

[Footnote 5:  Patrick Breen’s Diary.]

CHAPTER IX

SUFFERINGS OF THE “FORLORN HOPE”—­RESORT TO HUMAN FLESH—­“CAMP OF DEATH”—­BOOTS CRISPED AND EATEN—­DEER KILLED—­INDIAN Rancheria—­THE “WHITE MAN’S HOME” AT LAST.

Although we were so meagrely informed, it is well that my readers should, at this point, become familiar with the experiences of the expedition known as the Forlorn Hope,[6] and also the various measures taken for our relief when our precarious condition was made known to the good people of California.  It will be remembered that the Forlorn Hope was the party of fifteen which, as John Baptiste reported to us, made the last unaided attempt to cross the mountains.

Words cannot picture, nor mind conceive, more torturing hardships and privations than were endured by that little band on its way to the settlement.  It left the camp on the sixteenth of December, with scant rations for six days, hoping in that time to force its way to Bear Valley and there find game.  But the storms which had been so pitiless at the mountain camps followed the unprotected refugees with seemingly fiendish fury.  After the first day from camp, its members could no longer keep together on their marches.  The stronger broke the trail, and the rest followed to night-camp as best they could.

On the third day, Stanton’s sight failed, and he begged piteously to be led; but, soon realizing the heart-rending plight of his companions, he uncomplainingly submitted to his fate.  Three successive nights, he staggered into camp long after the others had finished their stinted meal.  Always he was shivering from cold, sometimes wet with sleet and rain.

It is recorded that at no time had the party allowed more than an ounce of food per meal to the individual, yet the rations gave out on the night of the twenty-second, while they were still in a wilderness of snow-peaks.  Mr. Eddy only was better provided.  In looking over his pack that morning for the purpose of throwing away any useless article, he unexpectedly found a small bag containing about a half-pound of dried bear-meat.[7] Fastened to the meat was a pencilled note from his wife, begging him to save the hidden treasure until his hour of direst need, since it might then be the means of saving his life.  The note was signed, “Your own dear Elinor.”  With tenderest emotion, he slipped the food back, resolving to do the dear one’s bidding, trusting that she and their children might live until he should return for them. [Illustration:  BEAR VALLEY, FROM EMIGRANT GAP]