"Our hopes of being able to get away from the oasis valley were thus
crushed in a moment. The horse could not of himself draw the wagon, and
how could we travel without it? Even could we have crossed the Desert
on foot, he would hardly suffice to carry our food and water. But for
us to pass one of those terrible stretches of wilderness--by the
Spaniards called `jornadas'--on foot was out of the question. Even the
strongest and hardiest of the trappers often perish in such attempts;
and how should we succeed--one of us being a delicate female--and having
two children that must be carried in our arms? The thing was plainly
impossible; and as I reflected upon it, the thoughts of its
impossibility filled me with despair.
"But were we never to escape from that lonely spot? What prospect was
before us of ever being able to leave it? No human beings might come to
our relief. Perhaps no human foot except our own had ever made its
track in that remote valley! This was not at all improbable; and indeed
a party of hunters or Indians, on their journey across the Desert, might
visit the mountain without discovering the valley,--so strangely was it
hollowed out of the plain.
"I had but little hope that any caravan or party of traders would pass
that way. The Desert that surrounded us was a sufficient barrier
against that; besides, I knew that the mountain was far to the southward
of the trails usually followed by the prairie traders. There was but
one hope that I could cling to with any degree of confidence: that was,
that the Desert might not stretch so far to the south or west as it
appeared to do; and by breaking up the wagon, and making a light cart
out of it, we might still be able to cross it. I was determined,
therefore, first to go alone, and explore the route in both these
directions. If it should appear practicable, I could return, and put
this design into execution.
"Next morning, having loaded my horse with provisions, and as much water
as he could well carry, I took an affectionate leave of my wife and
little ones; and, commending them to the protection of God, I mounted,
and rode off toward the west. I headed in this direction for a day and
a half, and still the waste stretched to the horizon before me. I had
made but a short journey, for the path led through ridges and hillocks
of moving sand, and my horse sank to the knees at every step. In the
afternoon of the second day, I turned back from the attempt, fearful
that I should not be able to regain the valley. But I succeeded at
length,--both myself and horse almost dead with thirst on arriving
there.
"I found my little party all well, as I had left them; but I had brought
them no glad tidings, and I sat down in the midst of them with a feeling
of despair.
"My next reconnoissance was to be to the south; and I only waited until
my jaded horse might be sufficiently rested for another journey.
"Another day passed, and I was sitting upon a log near the fire,
reflecting upon the dark future that lay before us. I was filled with
despondency, and took no note of what was passing around. When I had
sat in this way for some time, I felt a light hand touching me upon the
shoulder; and, looking up, I saw that Mary had seated herself upon the
log beside me, while a smile of cheerfulness and composure was playing
upon her features.
"I saw that she had something in her mind that she was about to
communicate to me.
"`What is it, Mary?' I asked.
"`Is not this a lovely spot?' said she, waving her hand so as to
indicate the whole scene by which we were surrounded. My eyes, along
with hers, roamed for a moment over the fair picture, and I could not do
otherwise than answer in the affirmative. It was, indeed, a lovely
spot. The open glade, with the golden sun streaming down upon its green
herbage, and vivid flowers--the varied tints of the forest frondage, now
dressed in the brilliant lively of autumn--the cliffs beyond,
contrasting with it in colour from their lining of dark-green cedars and
pines--and, higher still, the snow-white summit, as it towered against
the blue sky, sparkling under the sun, and lending a delicious coolness
to the air--all these objects formed a panorama that was indeed lovely
to look upon. And there were sweet sounds falling upon the ear--the
murmur of distant waters--the light rustling of leaves, stirred by a
soft breeze that blew past laden with the aromatic odours of buds and
flowers--the music of birds that sang to each other in the groves, or
uttered their joyous calls as they flapped their bright wings over the
open glade.
"`Yes, Mary,' I replied, `it is indeed a lovely spot.'
"`Then, Robert,' said she, with a look of strange meaning, `why should
we be so anxious to leave it?'
"`Why?' I repeated mechanically after her, wondering at the question.
"`Yes, why?' continued my wife. `We are in search of a home--why not
make _this_ our home? Where can we find a better? How know we that in
that land whither we were going, we may find one so good--if, indeed,
they give us a home at all?'
"`But, dear Mary,' said I, `how could you live away from the world--you
who have been brought up in the midst of society and its refinements?'
"`The world!' replied she, `what care we for the world? Have we not our
children with us? They will be our world, and we can be society enough
for each other. Moreover,' continued she, `remember how little we have
in that world,--remember how it has used us so far. Have we been happy
in it? No, I have enjoyed more happiness here than I ever did in the
midst of that society, of which you speak. Think, Robert! reflect
before we rashly leave this lovely spot--this sweet home--into which I
can almost believe the hand of God has guided us.'
"`But, Mary, you have not thought of the difficulties, the hardships to
which such a life may expose you.'
"`I have,' she replied. `I have thought of all these while you were
absent. I can see no difficulty in our procuring a subsistence here.
The Creator has bountifully stocked this singular oasis. We may easily
obtain all the necessaries of life--for its luxuries I care but little.
We can live without them.'
"Her words produced a strange effect upon me. Up to that moment the
idea of _remaining_ in the oasis had never entered my mind. I had only
occupied myself with speculating on the means by which we could escape
from it. Now, however, a sudden change came over my thoughts; and I
began to think seriously of following the counsel of my self-sacrificing
companion. The harsh treatment we had received at the hands of
civilised man--buffeted about by ill fortune--continually deceived, and
at every step becoming poorer and more dependent, all had their effect
in blunting that desire I should otherwise have felt to get back to the
world. I was not averse then to the idea, but rather ready to fall at
once into the plan.
"I remained silent for a length of time, casting over in my mind the
possibility of our carrying out such a scheme--the chances of our being
able to procure subsistence. It was evident there was plenty of game in
the valley. We had occasionally seen deer of different species, and we
had also discovered the tracks of other animals. There were pheasants
and turkeys, too, in abundance. We had our rifles, and by good fortune
a large stock of ammunition--for, besides my own, Harry and Frank had
powder-horns containing nearly a pound each. But this in time would be
expended--what then? Oh, what then? Before that I should find out some
other mode of capturing our game. Besides, the valley might contain
many other things intended to sustain life--roots and fruits. We had
already found some indications of this; and Mary, who was an
accomplished botanist, could tell the uses of them all. We should find
both food and water. What more could we ask from the hand of Nature?
"As I ran these thoughts through my mind, the project became every
moment more feasible. In fact, I grew quite as enthusiastic about it as
my wife.
"Cudjo, Frank, and Harry, were brought into our council; and they, too,
received the idea with delight. The faithful Cudjo was contented, as he
alleged, with any lot, so long as he might share it with us. As for the
boys they were in raptures with the thought of such a free wild life.
"We did not fully resolve upon anything for that day. We were
determined not to act rashly, but to reflect seriously upon it, and to
renew our deliberations on the following morning.
"During that night, however, a circumstance occurred, which at once
fixed my resolution to remain in the valley--at least until some
unforeseen chance might enable us to leave it with a better prospect of
safety."