Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 22.djvu/50



40 LINDSAY APPLEGATE

of Scott and Goff, who remained to guide and otherwise assist the immigrants on their way to Oregon.

Nothing worthy of mention occurred during our return along the valley of the Humboldt, and not until we left the river and proceeded westward towards Black Rock. The first night after leaving the river we spent at the spring found by Scott and Parker, on the 22nd of July. This we called Diamond Spring. Reaching this point about noon, we spent several hours in digging out a basin at the spring, which soon filled with pure, cold water.

Fifteen miles travel the next day over a good route, brought us at noon to the Rabbit Hole Springs. We soon improved this spring considerably, and, at about two P. M., took up our line of march for Black Rock, which we reached at nightfall. After we were out two or three miles from Diamond Springs this morning, our Bannock Indian discovered that he had left his butcher-knife and, tying his pony to a sage-brush, started back to the spring on a run, supposing he could easily over- take us, as we would be delayed considerably at Rabbit Hole Springs ; at any rate, he would have no trouble in following our trail. We saw him no more, and conjectured that he must have fallen a prey to the Diggers, who continually shadowed us as we traveled through their country, always ready to profit by any advantage given them.

No circumstances worthy of mention occurred on the mo- notonous march from Black Rock to the timbered regions of the Cascade chain; then our labors became quite arduous. Every day we kept guard over the horses while we worked the road, and at night we dared not cease our vigilance, for the Indians continually hovered about us, seeking for advantage. By the time we had worked our way through the mountains to the Rogue river valley, and then through the Grave Creek Hills and Umpqua chain, we were pretty thoroughly worn out. Our stock of provisions had grown very short, and we had to de- pend, to a great extent, for sustenance, upon game. Road working, hunting, and guard duty had taxed our strength