and all soon gathered at the little streamlet.  It was slow work getting water for them all, but by being patient they were all filled up.  Some took two canteens of water and hurried back to Mr. Ischam, whom they found still alive but his mouth and throat so dry and parched, and his strength so small that he was unable to swallow a single drop, and while they waited he breathed his last.  With their hands and feet they dug away the sand for a shallow grave, placed the body in it, covered it with his blankets, and then scraped the sand back over again to make a little mound over their dead comrade.  Perhaps if he could have walked a mile farther he might have lived, and but for the little trickling stream of water from the rocks they might all be dead, so slight were the circumstances that turned the scale to balance toward life or death.

There was so little feed for oxen that they could gain no strength, but were much refreshed by the water and could still travel.  One was killed here, and the meat, poor as it was, gave the men new strength.  They all guessed it to be at least fifty miles to the base of the great snow mountain before them, and what there was between no one could tell, for there were hills and valleys between.  Leaving the little spring their course led first up a small canon, and when they reached the summit of the ridge a small valley covered with sage brush was before them, the most fertile spot they had seen for a long time.  The descent to this valley was through another canon which was filled with large boulders for much of the way, and over these it seemed almost impossible to get the cattle.  They had seen no water since leaving the little stream, and the plain they were now approaching seemed thirty miles wide, with no signs of streams or springs.  However just at the foot of the canon they found a small water hole, but the water was so salt that even the oxen refused to drink it.

They decided to make a push across the plain and endeavor to reach the other side in two days, and they knew there could be no water on its even expanse.  The plain seemed quite an up grade from where they were to the base of the mountain.

On the second day they all reached the point they were aiming for except Rev. J.W.  Brier and family, and they came in one day behind.  Every one looked out for himself and had no time nor strength to spare to help others.  Here on a small bench overlooking the country to the south and east but still a long distance from the snow, they found some holes of water, and some bunch grass a little farther up the hill.  Here was a large trail coming from the north and leading from this point westward.  There were no signs of recent use, but there were many indications that it was quite ancient and had been considerably traveled in time past.  This was quite encouraging to many of them and they declared they would follow this trail which would surely lead to some place well known, in a better country.  They cared not whether it led to California, Mexico, or Texas, only that they might get out of this country which seemed accursed.  Any place where they could get something to eat and drink would be better than this.