to make a descent on the animals.  Step (one of these hunters) crept unperceived by the red man until he was within range of his rifle, when he fired, and killed the would-be thief.  No other game could be found, so the hunters returned, and the whole party retired to rest supperless, and arose the next morning to fast again.  That day, however, they found and killed some game, and for the time being, their appetites were once more appeased.  Fremont was now on his way to Peter Lawson’s Fort, where he arrived safely, after several days of hard traveling.  At this place the party rested for about one week; but the desire to have an active share in the approaching hostilities, caused Fremont to delay no longer than was absolutely necessary; hence, he started and went to a point lower down on the Sacramento, known to the mountaineers under the name of the Buttes.  Here, a camp was made, and here Fremont had decided to wait positive orders concerning the war; and, until these instructions should arrive, he employed his men in hunting.  After several days spent in this way, he began to weary of inactivity.  He thought that, in all probability, war had commenced; and, finally, he decided to take the responsibility of sending a part of his force to surprise Sonoma—­a Mexican military post that had but a weak garrison.  This the party accomplished to the entire satisfaction of their commander.  They captured and made prisoners of war at this fort, one general and two captains, besides taking several cannon and quite a quantity of small arms.  It was about this time that news reached Fremont which convinced him that hostilities had already commenced, and that both countries were taking active measures to carry the war on with vigor.  He set out immediately, on the receipt of this information, and joined his detail of men at Sonoma.  During his stay at this fort, General Castro sent one of his captains, with a large force of Mexicans, from San Francisco, with orders to drive the Americans out of the country.  This command came, and accidentally fell upon and butchered two men whom Fremont had sent out as messengers to inform all American settlers that Sonoma had been taken by him, and that thither they could fly for safety.  The gallant Mexican captain, on seeing and hearing that Fremont’s forces were anxious to meet him, becoming disheartened, began to retreat, and was pursued by the exploring party.  For six days they thus followed the retreating enemy, whose courage had evidently deserted them though they had triple the force of their pursuers.  So hot was the chase, that the Mexicans deserted many of their animals, which, as a matter of course, fell into the hands of the Americans.  Fremont, on finding that he could not overtake the enemy, returned to Sonoma.  The captain, with his Mexican command, as was afterwards learned, did not remain at San Francisco.  No doubt he did not like to trust himself within reach of Fremont, for he continued his march until he reached