Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/602

Rh these determined men. On the morning of the 18th they proceeded southward over a level plain, passing burning peat-beds, and coming at noon to the Humboldt River, near the present site of Humboldt City.

Although rejoiced to reach this river, which had been from the first an objective point, the explorers found the route from here too southerly for their purpose, and began a course up the valley in a north-easterly direction, looking for a pass more directly westward from a point east of Black Rock. The march continued for two and a half days, until they came to a dry branch of the Humboldt coming in from the north, where there was an extensive meadow, and where they encamped with the intention of exploring back toward what seemed to be a gap through the ridge round which they had travelled to the south.

At a distance of fifteen miles up the dry creek they came to a fine spring; and fifteen miles west, up a gradual rise, to a table-land covered with good grass, from which Black Rock was plainly visible. Satisfied that they had now discovered a direct route from the Humboldt westward to Black Point, with grass and water, and making assurance doubly sure by rediscovering Rabbit-hole Springs, after remaining in the Humboldt Meadow to recruit their horses three days, they turned their faces once more toward the east, knowing that the source of the Humboldt was in the vicinity of their destined point, and that there could be no lack of water or grass for the remainder of the way.

On the 25th of July the march was resumed. The intention of the explorers was to select their route directly to Bear River, fifty or sixty miles south of Fort Hall, where, in case of hostilities with England, the American traveller would not wish to go. But provisions running short, only two thirds of the company proceeded to Bear River, while Jesse Applegate, Harris, Goff. Owens, and Bogus turned off from