Some of the Jayhawkers had been in the Mexican War and understood a few words of Spanish, and by a liberal use of signs were able to communicate with the armed party and tell them who they were, where they were going, and the unfortunate condition in which they found themselves.  The men did not seem angry at losing so few of their cattle, and doubtless considered themselves fortunate in not suffering to the extent of some hundreds as they did sometimes by Indian raids, and invited the whole party down to the ranch house of the San Francisquito Rancho of which this was a part.  Arrived at the house the ranch men brought in a good fat steer which they killed and told the poor Americans to help themselves and be welcome.  This was on the fourth day of February, 1850.

The whole party remained here to rest themselves and their oxen for several days, and were royally entertained by the people at the ranch.  They talked over the plans for the future, and considered the best course to pursue.  They thought it would be wise to keep their oxen for these would now improve in flesh, and as they had no money with which to buy food they might still rely on them in further travels.  The best oxen had survived, for the failing ones were selected to be killed when they were forced to have food.  The weaker of their comrades had perished in the desert, and the remainder of the train consisted of the strongest men and the strongest oxen, and there seemed to be no question but that they could all live in this country where grass and water were both abundant, and every sign of more or less wild game.

Those of the company who had no cattle made their way directly to Los Angeles, and from thence to the coast from which most of them reached San Francisco by sailing vessel.  Those who had no money were given a passage on credit, and it is believed that all such debts were afterwards honestly paid.

Capt.  Doty made a proposition to buy out the oxen of some who had only one or two, giving his note for them payable in San Francisco or anywhere up north they might chance to meet, and many of them accepted and went to the coast.  In this way Doty secured oxen enough to supply one for each of those who decided to go with him.  They decided to use them for pack animals to carry their blankets, and to proceed slowly toward the mines, killing game, if possible, and permitting their animals to graze and improve in condition as they moved.

There must have been from twenty-five to forty people gathered at the ranch.  Among them was the Rev. J.W.  Brier who seemed to want to impress it on the new California friends that he was the man of all others to be honored.  The ranchman was a good Catholic, and Brier tried to make him understand that he, also, was very devout.  He said, and repeated to him very often—­“Me preacher,” but he did not succeed very well in impressing the good Californian with the dignity of his profession, for he could talk no Spanish and was not highly gifted in sign language.