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Show 256 PERSONAL ADVENTURES we managed to get up a tolerably handsome feast off fresh beef, and to put some by for the moJTO\V's store. A cheerful supper wound up our day's perplexities and troubles, and, the watch being set, we lay down to sleep. We had not been long reposing, ere we were awakened by a most terrific noise, which at first we had some difficulty in making out; but Monsieur Frederic soon set us at ease, by informing us that it proceeded from the wolves and prairie-dogs engaged in devouring the carcass of the cow we had killed, and the rem.ains of which had been left on the spot where she was skinned. This 'vas true enough; for in the morning we found nothing left of her save the bare skeleton, and a drove of hungry cayotes still lingering about it, that Rcarcely seemed disposed to move on our approach. We felt greatly refreshed by our night's rest; and proceeded to replenish our canteens and bottles at the puddle, previously to setting out again. Our horses, too, appeared all the better, and we renewed our march, directing our steps by the compass. IN CALIFORNIA. 2fi7 'V e had advanced several miles, when we perceived, on our right, but considerably out of our line of march, what we at once recognised as a waggon-track, and hurrying on, were not a little gratified to find that our surn1ises were correct, and that our compass had proved a true guide. We now regarded our difficulties as being at an end, especially when we observed a moving speck far a-head of us, which we could distinguish to be a team of oxen, advancing in the direction towards which we were ourselves journeying. A few miles further, and our conjectures were set entirely at rest; for we emerged upon a wide, level, and well-beaten road, bestrewn with fragments of carts, broken wheels, and other similar evidences of traffic, indicating the recent passage of a party bound for the mines. That night we had plenty of good water, abundance of beef, a Rurplus of grass for our horses, good fuel, and a delightful restingplace, perfectly sheltered, and where we slept. soundly. And thus we marched onwards, encountering every day additional evidences |