Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/395

 Kl-:< ol.i.KrriONS OF AN OLD PlONKKK. ami water. We had been rapidly descending the western side of the Sierra Nevada for some days before we over- took Lassen and his party ; and we knew that we could not be very far from the Sacramento Valley. Besides this evidence, we found the red oaks appearing among the pines; and this was a conclusive proof that we were not far from that valley. I saw that there was no necessity that the wagons should follow our pilots so closely. Our true policy would have been to remain where we first found the oak timber until our pilots had explored and selected the route into the valley. We could have safely remained at that good camp a month longer than we did. But one portion of our people had the gold fever too badly to be controlled. We who were more patient and cautious were willing that those hasty and ambitious men should go on ahead of us, if they desired to do so. Our two classes were well matched, like the man's oxen, one of which wanted to do all the work, and the other was perfectly willing that he should. I had directed the men in charge of my wagons and teams to remain in that good camp until they should re- ceive other orders. I then assisted to open the road to the natural bridge mentioned. After that, the road ran through open woods and over good ground to the point where the pines terminated. I determined to leave the foremost wagons at that point and return on foot to the good camp, where I arrived in the evening. Next morn- ing early I took my best horse and started on after the foremost wagons, deciding that my own wagons and teams should remain where they were until I knew they could reach the valley by that or some other route. The dis- tance from the point where I left the foremost wagons to the good camp was about fifteen miles. About 10 o'clock, A. M.. I arrived at that point, which I had left the morn- ing before; and, looking down toward the valley, 1 could