case,
it all fell in pieces. It appears that an edict had gone forth against dogs ; all must die or leave the train. The enra2:ed owners of valuable canines rushed to arms, and prepared to mingle the blood of the slayers with that of the slain. The result was the amendment of the decree and a reelection of officers.
The ordinary migration was something as follows: From the various points of departure along the then so-called western frontier, companies, families, and in- dividuals set out on foot, on horseback, on mules, in covered wagons — prairie clippers or schooners some called them — drawn by long files of cattle, and filled with flour, bacon, beans, sugar, coffee, tobacco, whisky, cooking and household utensils, and other useful and useless articles, many of which were soon to be thrown away to lighten the load. Extra draft and riding animals to be used as relays, and to take the places of the exhausted, lost, or stolen ; and some- times cows and sheep, were driven, beside or behind the waoon. As the animals thinned in number, oxen and mules, or horses and cows, might be seen yoked together, and horseless cavaliers, thankful of any re- lief for their blistered feet, did not disdain to mount horned cattle. In the wagons were women, children, and sick persons, though often these were obliged to walk to save the strength of the fainting animals. At the belt of many were carried a large knife, and one or more revolvers ; slung to the back a rifle, and from the saddle-horn a lasso hung ready for imme- diate use. Taking with them their wives and children these gold-worshippers left behind — not starvation and anarchy, but peaceful, happy homes, good government and plenty, abasing their work-worn women, and exposing their nurselings to burning plains and icy mountains, dooming them to disease, perhaps death. Love of adventure prompted some
