Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/124

 case,

it all  fell  in  pieces. It appears  that  an  edict  had gone forth  against  dogs ;  all  must  die  or  leave  the train. The enra2:ed  owners  of  valuable  canines rushed to  arms,  and  prepared  to  mingle  the  blood  of the  slayers  with  that  of  the  slain. The result  was the amendment  of  the  decree  and  a  reelection  of officers.

The ordinary  migration  was  something  as  follows: From the  various  points  of  departure  along  the  then so-called western  frontier,  companies,  families,  and  in- dividuals set out  on  foot,  on  horseback,  on  mules,  in covered  wagons — prairie  clippers  or  schooners  some called them — drawn  by  long  files  of  cattle,  and  filled with flour,  bacon,  beans,  sugar,  coffee,  tobacco, whisky, cooking  and  household  utensils,  and  other useful and  useless  articles,  many  of  which  were  soon to be  thrown  away  to  lighten  the  load. Extra draft and riding  animals  to  be  used  as  relays,  and  to  take the places  of  the  exhausted,  lost,  or  stolen ;  and  some- times cows and  sheep,  were  driven,  beside  or  behind  the waoon. As the  animals  thinned  in  number,  oxen and mules,  or  horses  and  cows,  might  be  seen  yoked together, and  horseless  cavaliers,  thankful  of  any  re- lief for their  blistered  feet,  did  not  disdain  to  mount horned cattle. In the  wagons  were  women,  children, and sick  persons,  though  often  these  were  obliged  to walk  to  save  the  strength  of  the  fainting  animals. At the  belt  of  many  were  carried  a  large  knife,  and one or  more  revolvers ;  slung  to  the  back  a  rifle,  and from the  saddle-horn  a  lasso  hung  ready  for  imme- diate use. Taking with  them  their  wives  and children these  gold-worshippers  left  behind — not starvation and  anarchy,  but  peaceful,  happy  homes, good government  and  plenty,  abasing  their  work-worn women, and  exposing  their  nurselings  to  burning  plains and icy  mountains,  dooming  them  to  disease,  perhaps death. Love of  adventure  prompted  some