the previous hardship; and about noon we reached the North fork. There was
no sign that our party had passed; we rode, therefore, to some pine trees,
unsaddled the hoses, and stretched our limbs on the grass, awaiting the
arrival of our company. After remaining here two hours, my companion
became impatient, mounted his horse again, and rode off down the river to
see if he could discover our people. I felt so marode yet, that it was a
horrible idea to me to bestride that saddle again; so I lay still. I knew
they could not come any other way, and then my companion, one of the best
men of the company, would not abandon me. The sun went down--he did not
come. Uneasy I did not feel, but very hungry. I had no provisions, but I
could make a fire; and as I espied two doves in a tree, I tried to kill
one. But it needs a better marksman than myself to kill a little bird with
a rifle. I made a fire, however, lighted my pipe--this true friend of mine
in every emergency--lay down, and let my thoughts wander to the far east.
It was not many minutes after when I heard the tramp of a horse, and my
faithful companion was by my side. He had found the party, who had been
delayed by making their _cache_, about seven miles below. To the good
supper which he brought with him I did ample justice. He had forgotten
salt, and I tried the soldier's substitute in time of war, and used
gunpowder; but it answered badly--bitter enough, but no flavor of kitchen
salt. I slept well; and was only disturbed by two owls, which were
attracted by the fire, and took their place in the tree under which we
slept. Their music seemed as disagreeable to my companion as to myself; he
fired his rifle twice, and then they let us alone.

"7th.--At about 10 o'clock, the party arrived; and we continued our
journey through a country which offered but little to interest the
traveler. The soil was much more sandy than in the valley below the
confluence of the forks, and the face of the country no longer presented
the refreshing green which had hitherto characterized it. The rich grass