CHAPTER XIII.

Mormon Battalion Mustered out of Service--One Hundred and Fifty Members Organize to Return Fast to the Rocky Mountains--Start on the Journey--Difficulties of the Route--Dealing with Wild Horses and Cattle Stampede of a Pack Animal--Chase Into an Indian Camp--Lost All Night in a Swamp--Suffering on the Desert for Lack of Water--Arrive Near Sutter's Fort--On the Site of Sacramento Party Decide to Remain Over for the Year, and Obtain Employment--Meet Captain J. A. Sutter and James W. Marshall--Proposition to Capt. Sutter--Engaged to Work on a Sawmill--Proceedings at the Millsite--Mill Started Up--The Writer Engaged to Direct Indians Laboring at the Tail Race--Conversation with Mr. Marshall--Marshall Talks About Finding Gold--He and the Writer make a Search for Gold, but Finding None, Defer the Investigation till Next Morning--Marshall's Faith in his Being Successful In Discovering the Precious Metal.