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which the mules hoofs make little impression = in many places the sand drifts like drifting snow = in some places there are a few clumps of wild sage & then again as far as the eye can reach not a shrub = or a blade of grass = or living thing = but ourselves can be seen upon the dreary waste = desolation weighs supreme = resumed our journey about sunrise = we had made about 36 miles we calculated & we travelled as fast as we could = we often saw Deceptive bodies of water in the distance or "Miriage" Mr Philips in one ^ place would not admit it was a delusion but was confident it was a lake = another seeing some magnified sage bushes & believing them animals going to drink remarked "now those animals will get to that lake & drink enough to kill themselves" our course was now north of west towards a distant point of mountains = after rounding the point = came up with the company of waggons that had started on the desert before us = a good many of their cattle had given out & were left on the desert to die & they had to abandon some of their waggons in consequence, it seemed hard to see animals thus left to perish = our course now was nearly west toward a distant ridge of mountain = we had travelled since sunrise without stopping, and as it grew dark some of our company who had reached the opposite side = built up a bright fire to guide us in,, I fell asleep several times & dropped my leading rope, we met waggons of the other company going back with water to succor their comrades left in the desert = they had left their loading & hurried on in advance = to return & succor them as soon as possible = our company did not all get in 'till morning One man Nichols walked all the way = I reached camp in the evening = saw Indian camp fired on the mountain above us = but we were all too tired to think of keeping guard even if our scalps were the forfeit = & I was too tired to cook any supper = but stretched myself upon the ground as soon as possible (after caring for my animals) & forgot all my troubles in sleep