We overtook the party next morning at nine o’clock, having met some of them who were coming back after us.  All were rejoiced that we had come on safely.  Here I met Elisha Bennett and told him my story.  He said he could sell me a yoke of oxen.  He had a yoke in J.A.  Philipps’ team and was going to take them out.  He said nothing in particular as to price.  I said that I wanted to see Mr. Philipps and talk with him about the matter, for he had said Bennett should not have the cattle.  I went over to see him and spoke to him about Bennett’s cattle and he told me they had quarreled and I could have them, and so we made a bargain.  I gave twenty dollars for the cattle, the last money I had, and as much provisions as he could carry on his back.  They were making up a party to reach the settlements at the Williams ranch, and I made arrangements for them to send back provisions for us.  About thirty started that way—­young men and men with no families with them.

I got along very well with my new team after that.  It was about forty miles from water to water, and I think we camped three times.  At one place we found that provisions had been left, with a notice that the material was for us, but the red-skins got the provisions.  We struck a spring called-----, a small spring of water, and a child of some of the party died there and was buried.

We then went more nearly south to find the Mojave River, for we hoped to find water there.  It was very scarce with us then, We had one pretty cold day, but generally fine weather, and to get along we traveled at night and a party struck the Mojave.  Here there was some grass, and the mustard was beginning to start up and some elder bushes to put forth leaves.  I picked some of the mustard and chewed it to try to get back my natural taste.  Here the party divided, a part going to the left to San Bernardino and the remainder to the right to Cucamunga.  I was with the latter party and we got there before night.

Rhynierson said to one of the party—­’Charlie, you had better hurry on ahead and try to get some meat before the crowd comes up.’  Charlie went on ahead and we drove along at the regular gait which was not very fast about these times.  We saw nothing of Charlie and so I went to the house to look for him and found him dead drunk on wine.  He had not said a word to them about provisions.  That wine wrecked us all.  All had a little touch of scurvy, and it seemed to be just what we craved.  I bought a big tumbler of it for two bits and carried it to my wife.  She lasted it at first rather gingerly, then took a little larger sup of it, and then put it to her lips and never slopped drinking till the last drop was gone.  I looked a little bit surprised and she looked at me and innocently asked—­’Why!  Haven’t you had any?’ I was afraid she would be the next one to be dead drunk, but it never affected her in that way at all.  We bought a cow here to kill, and used the meat either fresh or dried, and then