about three o'clock in the
afternoon
I have ordered a halt now , because , twenty miles from here , in the direction that we are travelling , we shall come to an extensive deposit of pure , white sand , in which we shall be liable to lose the trail at night ; and I want to reach there as near daybreak as possible , so as not to waste more time than is necessary in finding it . We shall rest here until midnight , so you 'd better turn in and get what sleep you can . '' Midnight found us once more in the saddle , and when , some hours later , we reached the deposit referred to , an examination showed , that , instead of crossing it , the trail skirted its southern edge for a couple of miles , and then took an easterly course towards the Sacramento Mountains , distant about twenty-five miles . Our course lay in the vicinity of two or three little _ salinas _ , or salt lakes , but over an arid , barren plain , destitute of any vegetation , except mesquite _ chaparral _ ; and about three o'clock in the afternoon , we reached the timber that skirted the base of the mountains . As the guides , who were some distance in advance , reached the extreme end of a spur , around which the trail led , we saw them pause for a few moments , and then hasten towards us . Upon reaching us , old Jerry , in a voice husky with emotion , said , `` They 're there for sartin ; '' pointing towards the end of the spur . A retreat to the cover of the trees was instantly ordered , when the guides informed us , that upon reaching the point of rocks , they discovered several animals grazing in the meadow beyond , and that the Indians must be encamped in the immediate vicinity ; but in order to make sure , would leave their horses with us , and return and make a _ reconnoissance _ .