Before them stretched a vast arid plain to which the trappers referred
with a shudder of terror. They had heard of it many a time and the
common legend was that no man white or Indian who had ever attempted to
cross it, succeeded. These stories, however, added to the eagerness of
Captain Fremont to explore its secrets, and, when he proposed it to
his men, they expressed as strong a desire as he to do so. They felt a
mutual trust and confidence impossible under other circumstances.

Some seventy miles away, a mountain peak held out the promise of wood
and water. Four men under the guidance of an Indian, were sent forward
to explore the place, and, in the event of finding water, they were
instructed to apprise the watchful commander by means of the smoke from
a camp fire.

When the second day closed without sight of the signal, Fremont became
so uneasy that he moved forward with the rest of the party and travelled
all night. At daylight, one of the smaller party approached them. He
said that running water and grass existed at the mountains, but their
Indian guide was wholly ignorant of the country. This was good news and
the next day the party reached the stream.

Shortly after, the expedition was divided into two parties, Walker (of
whom mention has been made), taking charge of the larger while Fremont
led the smaller. It was the purpose of Walker to pass around to the
foot of the Sierra Nevada, by a route with which he was familiar, while
Fremont with Carson and less than a dozen men, among whom were several
Delaware Indians, headed straight across the desert.

While advancing over this arid tract, they detected a volume of smoke
rising from a ravine. Cautiously approaching, they discovered an Indian
warrior perfectly nude, standing by a fire and watching an earthen pot
in which something was simmering. He was greatly frightened and offered
them his food. They smiled, treated him kindly and gave him several
trifling presents which he received with childish delight.

One of the singular incidents of the journey took place while the
exploring party were making their way along the foot of the Sierras.
Passing around a point on the lake shore, they unexpectedly met a dozen
Indian warriors. They were walking directly behind each other in what is
known as Indian file, their heads bent forward and their eyes fixed on
the ground. The whites turned aside to allow them to pass and naturally
watched them with much interest