e,
Her aspect and her mien."

CHAPTER XI.

"BUT ALL COMES RIGHT IN THE END."

From this point on to Carson River the route was continuously strewn
with the carcasses of stock that had perished there, some of them years
before. Owing probably to the dry climate and the fact that the greater
part of the desert was covered with alkali and crystalized soda, the
bodies of these animals remained perfect, as they had fallen. The sand
glistening in their eyes gave them a very lifelike appearance. At
intervals could be seen wagons, all complete except the cover, with two
to four yoke of cattle lying dead, with the yokes on their necks, the
chains still in the rings, just as they fell and died, most of them with
their tongues hanging from their mouths.

Daylight came just as we got to the loose sand. The moment the sun rose
above the horizon its influence could be seen and felt, and in an hour
or two several cattle-teams had perished near us. First one ox would
drop as though he were shot, and in a few minutes others would sink
down, and almost before the owner could realize the condition of things,
a part or the whole of his team would lie dead.

For the want of vegetables or acid of some kind, I had been troubled for
a week or so with an attack of scurvy in my mouth, the gums being
swollen because of the alkali dust. This not only caused me pain and
misery, but created a strong and constant desire for something sour.
While riding past an ox team I noticed a jug in the front end of the
wagon. Upon inquiry of the driver, I found that the jug contained
vinegar. I offered him a silver dollar for a cupful, but he refused to
part with any of it, saying that he might need it himself before he got
through. He was afoot on the off side of the wagon, where the jug was
setting. I was sort of crazy mad and drawing my revolver, I rode around
the rear of the wagon, thinking I would kill the fellow and take his jug
of vinegar. But when he began to run for his life around the front yoke
of cattle I came to my senses and hastened away from his outfit.

We could now see a few scattering, tall trees outlining the Carson
River, also long mountain spurs reaching almost out into the sand,
covered with a short growth of pine timber. In leaving the sand about 11
o'clock A. M. I noticed a large open tent near by. I rode up and into the
tent, and, looking about, saw among other things one bottle of gherkin
pickles about one quart of