Accordingly we started to the mines, there. For the first time we met in this locality with indifferent success, or rather with no success at all. We, therefore, decided upon prospecting at a further distance, and repaired to Austin. Here we found the mines less promising even than those we had just left, and pushed on to Belmont in the hope of doing better. A similar want of fortune pursued us to this place. One evening as we were sitting in camp, in no very agreeable mood, as respected the world and things in general, a bright idea struck one of us. "Look here, boys!" he said. "Haven't you ever thought of fighting ag'in Secesh?" "May Hi be blamed," exclaimed Brighton Bill, "hif you 'aven't 'it hit! What's the h'use of prospecting hand digging where we don't git nothing. Hi'm game for heither side. Let's go h'in, Cap!" "I'm not exactly game for either side, Bill!" was my reply; "but for the old Stars and Stripes, I think I'd like to take a turn." "So would I. It will be some variety, old fellow, in any case, 'though I'd as soon fight it out on either side," said Painter. "So would I. Ye're right, Ben!" ejaculated Butch' Hasbrouck. "We'll put it to the vote, which side we go in for, Mose," quietly said Arnold. Not one of us declined fighting. It was merely a question as to which side the fight was to be entered upon. A brief discussion had the result of our taking Harry's advice. The old flag, however, carried the largest number of votes. We were to strike a blow for the Union. After we had determined upon this, the next thing which presented itself to our consideration, was the line of travel it would be best for us to take. We had a fair stock of coffee, sugar and jerked meat. This would, however, be insufficient, if we intended to cross the continent. We should have, consequently, to direct our march through a section in which game would be tolerably plentiful. My suggestion was that we should pass through the Paranagut country and the southern part of Utah, until we struck the Colorado River. From that point our line of march would be clear enough. "Have yer ever been through that part, Mose?" asked Butch'. "No." "Then yer've a darned good nose for game, I will say." "And red-skins, too," said Arnold, "if we are to believe all we hear." "Whar thar's game, ye're sure to find the skunks," exclaimed Painter sententiously. And so, the first part of our route was settled without much difficulty. Next morning we broke up camp, and after a few days of hard travelling, struck the south fork of the Colorado. Game had been scarcer than we had supposed. However, it was absolutely necessary that we should here replenish our stock of provisions. The jerked meat began to run low, and we had no more than a single day's rations of coffee on hand. A halt for a few days was therefore proposed, during which we might devote our time to hunting, and laying in sufficient meat for us to continue our route to the East.