As the sun showed its face over the great sea of mountains away to the east of Death Valley, and it seemed to rise very early for winter season we packed up and started west on the big trail.  Rogers and I took the oxen and mule and went on, leaving the others to accompany Old Crump and his little charges.  Arcane had found it best to carry Charley on his back, as it relieved the burning sensation, caused by the eruption on his skin, which was aggravated by the close quarters of the pockets.  Thus leaving the pockets unbalanced, Bennett had to carry his baby also.  This made it harder for them, but every one tried to be just as accommodating as they could and each one would put himself to trouble to accommodate or relieve others.

Rogers and I made camp when we reached the proper place which was some distance from the mountain, on a perfectly level plain where there was no water, no grass, nothing but sage brush would grow on the dry and worthless soil.  We let the oxen go and eat as much of this as they chose, which was very little and only enough to keep them from absolute starvation.  The great trail had a branch near here that turned north, and went up a ravine that would seem to reach the snow in a little while.  This was believed to be impassable at this time of year.  This route is known as Walker’s Pass, leading over a comparatively low ridge, and coming out the south fork of the Kern River.

We made our camp here because it was as long a march as the women could make, and, for a dry one, was as good a location as we could find.  The cool breeze came down from the snow to the north of us, not so very many miles away, and after a little it became uncomfortably cold.  We gathered greasewood bushes and piled them up to make a wind-break for our heads.  The oxen, even, would come and stand around the fire, seeming greatly to enjoy the warm smoke, which came from burning the greasewood brush, which by the way, burns about the best of any green wood.  When we were ready to lie down we tied the animals to bunches of brush, and they lay contentedly till morning.

To the north of us, a few miles away we could see some standing, columns of rock, much reminding one of the great stone chimney of the boiler house at Stanford Jr., University; not quite so trim and regular in exterior appearance, but something in that order.  We reckon the only students in the vicinity would be lizards.

When the women arrived in camp they were very tired, but encouraged themselves that they were much nearer the promised land than they were in the morning.  Mrs. Bennett said she was very careful never to take a step backward, and to make every forward one count as much as possible.  “That’s a good resolution, Sally,” said Mr Bennett.  “Stick to it and we will come out by and bye.”