my track. The fog was very thick; one could not see three
yards ahead. I listened for a second; then taking off my shoes to
prevent making a noise, and putting on my coat, I crawled about one
thousand yards. I then stopped to think what was best for me to do to
outwit those seeking my life. I argued to myself that it was best to
tack back toward Merced, as the mob would be apt to pursue me
northward and eastward that night. They would imagine, so I thought,
that I would flee before them and strike for the Merced river; so I
concluded to go where they would least expect to find me. I would
return and strike Bear Creek, which has very high banks and a narrow
channel, but which at that time contained no water. If I could reach
the creek (which was some seven miles off) before day-break, I knew I
would be safe for one day, at least, provided I was very cautious.
With this resolution formed, I listened for a few seconds, and hearing
nothing, I started to make a semi-circle of the Half-Way House in
order to get on the other side of it. By a bright light which the fog
magnified to at least ten times its size, which kept moving to and fro
in and around the Half Way-House, which was either a torch or a
lantern, I knew that the blood-thirsty crew were searching under the
porch and in the out-houses for me. I had not proceeded a quarter of a
mile after taking my resolve to get between the mob and Merced, when I
came to the road leading from the above houses to Cox's Ferry. I
stopped and listened for a second and peered through the fog, which
was growing denser and more dense as the night advanced, but could
discern nothing but the bright light before mentioned, which I was
utilizing as a guide to travel by. I then crossed the road; I had no
sooner done so than I discovered two horsemen going toward Snelling. I
fell flat on my face, scarcely daring to breathe, and they passed on
without discovering me. While lying down I watched them attentively to
see if they suspected their close proximity to me, as they were riding
at that moment very slow, and were apparently on the alert for any
sound which might possibly reach their ears. I saw several more
horsemen, but luckily they did not see me before I had accomplished
the semi-circle around the Half-Way House; but after accomplishing
that manoeuvre, I saw no one again that night, as I kept away from
the roads, and was not under the necessity of crossing any more. When
about four miles f