attempt to ride but followed on, close after Old Crump and the children who required almost constant attention, for in their cramped position they made many cries and complaints.  To think of it, two children cramped up in narrow pockets, in which they could not turn around, jolted and pitched around over the rough road, made them objects of great suffering to themselves and anxiety and labor on the part of the mothers.

Mrs. Bennett said she would carry her baby if she could, but her own body was so heavy for her strength that she could not do it.  Bennett, Rogers and myself hurried the oxen all we could, so that we could reach the water, and let Bennett go back with some to meet the rest and refresh them for the end of the day’s march, and he could take poor little Martha from the pocket and carry her in his arms, which would be a great relief to her.  Arcane also took his child when he met them, throwing away his double barrel gun, saying:—­“I have no use for you.”

When the women reached camp we had blankets already spread down for them, on which they cast themselves, so tired as to be nearly dead.  They were so tired and discouraged they were ready to die, for they felt they could not endure many days like this.

We told them this was the first day and they were not used to exercise therefore more easily tired than after they became a little used to it.  We told them not to be discouraged, for we knew every water hole, and all the road over which we would pilot them safely.  They would not consent to try riding again, after their circus experience, and Mrs. Arcane said her limbs ached so much she did not think she could even go on the next day.  They had climbed over the rocks all day, and were lame and sore, and truly thought they could not endure such another day.  The trail had been more like stairs than a road in its steep ascent, and our camp was at a narrow pass in the range.  The sky was clear and cloudless, as it had been for so long for thus far upon this route no rain had fallen, and only once a little snow, that came to us like manna in the desert.  For many days we had been obliged to go without water both we and our cattle, and over the route we had come we had not seen any signs of a white man’s presence older than our own.  I have no doubt we were the first to cross the valley in this location, a visible sink hole in the desert.

The women did not recover sufficient energy to remove their clothing, but slept as they were, and sat up and looked around with uncombed hair in the morning, perfect pictures of dejection.  We let them rest as long as we could, for their swollen eyes and stiffened joints told how sadly unprepared they were to go forward at once.  The sun came out early and made it comfortable, while a cool and tonic breeze, came down from the great snow mountain the very thing to brace them up after a thorough rest.

The slope to the east was soon met by a high ridge and between this and the main mountain was a gentle slope scattered over with sage brush, and a few little stools of bunch grass here and there between.  This gave our oxen a little food and by dipping out the water from the holes and letting them fill up again we managed to get water for camp use and to give the animals nearly all they wanted.