attempted to cross it, succeeded. These stories, however, added to
the eagerness of Captain Fremont to explore its secrets, and, when
he proposed it to his men, they expressed as strong a desire as he
to do so. They felt a mutual trust and confidence impossible under
other circumstances.

Some seventy miles away, a mountain peak held out the promise of
wood and water. Four men under the guidance of an Indian, were sent
forward to explore the place, and, in the event of finding water,
they were instructed to apprise the watchful commander by means of
the smoke from a camp fire.

When the second day closed without sight of the signal, Fremont
became so uneasy that he moved forward with the rest of the party
and travelled all night. At daylight, one of the smaller party
approached them. He said that running water and grass existed at
the mountains, but their Indian guide was wholly ignorant of the
country. This was good news and the next day the party reached the
stream.

Shortly after, the expedition was divided into two parties, Walker
(of whom mention has been made), taking charge of the larger while
Fremont led the smaller. It was the purpose of Walker to pass
around to the foot of the Sierra Nevada, by a route with which he
was familiar, while Fremont with Carson and less than a dozen men,
among whom were several Delaware Indians, headed straight across
the desert.

While advancing over this arid tract, they detected a volume of
smoke rising from a ravine. Cautiously approaching, they discovered