o valley here, the ground between this
range and the Sierra being a commingling of rolling hills, shady dells,
and narrow ravines, all densely covered with verdure, through which
small rivulets murmured, taking their rise at the base of the Sierra,
and wound their way through the broken surface, now in tranquil beauty,
and anon dashing in waterfalls down ledges of rocks, their clear limpid
waters lashed to a foam. Large quantities of deer, elk, antelope, and
mountain sheep, were found there, as well as wild turkeys, geese,
partridges, duck, and numerous other smaller fowls. Secure in the
mountain fastnesses the game had multiplied till it had completely
filled the whole country, and Howe declared that during all his hunting
and trapping career, he had never encountered such a variety and
quantity in so small a space of territory.

"I cannot think it a small space," said Jones. "In my opinion, it
extends many hundred miles each way, giving game range enough."

They were now at the foot of the last and most formidable object that
debarred them from civilization, and here they thought it prudent to
halt a few days to recruit their own as well as their animal's
strength, and prepare provision to carry with them. The second day of
the halt while they were in search of the roots of the yampa, they
found on turning up the earth that it was specked with fine particles
of gold. They were highly elated at this, for now, with a fair prospect
of freeing themselves from the wilds, it had its old intrinsic value,
and doubly valuable would it be to them, on gaining a settlement, as
not one of them had an article of clothing about them that was not made
of skins, and many in not over good repair.

"We can save this now, I suppose," said Sidney, "that the chief is not
by with evil spirits?"

"Certainly, as much as you like," returned the trapper. "I intend to
find some on my own account."

"You will not find any that will equal in quantities and value, that of
the cavern in the oasis," said Edward.

"You don't know that," returned his uncle. "I have always noticed where
gold is found in flakes, mixed with earth, that it has been washed in
ages past into its present bed, from where it originally was in a pure
state. At least such is the conclusion formed by present appearances."

"No harm in searching for it," said Jones, who was in ecstacies at the
discovery of gold, and he began to tear up the loose earth in every
direction aro