Three Indians came into the camp last night, belonging, we believe, to some tribe no great distance off.  We gave them a good supper; and after it was over we took care to make as much display as possible of our firearms and bullet-pouches, and to see that our horses and mules were well tethered before we turned in for the night.  Story and McPhail were the first guard.  The three Indians wrapped themselves up in their blankets, and slept just outside the tent; and after a good breakfast in the morning took their departure, shaking hands with our party all round, and expressing by other signs their satisfaction at the treatment they had met with.  Biggs is nearly recovered from his attack, and will commence work again in a couple of days; meanwhile, he is doing guard duty.  Dowling and Bradshaw are still both very ill.

September 3rd, Sunday.—­Bradley repeated his proposition to-day, that himself and Don Luis, accompanied by Jose, who was to take charge of a couple of horses, with packs containing the bulk of the gold, should start off the following morning.  Story was of opinion that they ought to be attended by a guard as far as the Sacramento Valley; but, to our surprise, Bradley and Don Luis opposed this suggestion, on the score that such a precaution was unnecessary.

Yesterday evening I took an opportunity of speaking privately to Malcolm and McPhail in reference to Bradley’s proposition, and also in reference to his and Don Luis’s peremptory dismissal of Story’s suggestion, without even allowing it to be discussed.  We then brought a circumstance to our recollection which had never struck us before, namely, that neither of us had ever seen Captain Sutter’s receipt for the gold Bradley had deposited in the Captain’s charge, and we determined to bring the matter up the first opportunity.  To-day, therefore, while we were at breakfast, Malcolm asked Bradley if Captain Sutter had given a receipt for the gold, when he answered “Yes, certainly;” but, to our surprise, stated that he had had the misfortune to burn it.  He went on to say, that while on his return to Weber’s Creek, during a halt he made, he had struck a light for his cigar, and had incautiously used the receipt for that purpose.  He had mentioned the matter to Don Luis, he said, the same day he returned.  Malcolm, McPhail, and myself, looked at each other, but we felt bound to believe Bradley’s statement.  We arranged, however, during a stroll we made from the camp, after breakfast was finished, not to agree to Bradley’s proposition in reference to the conveyance of our present stock of gold, unless one of us three formed one of the party accompanying it.