Wilkes’ Survey of the Western Coast――Fremont’s Ascent of the Kansas――Encounter with Arapaho Warriors――Arrival at Fort Laramie――A threatening Letter――Fremont’s Reply――On the Sweet Water River――Discovery of Mountain Lake and Fremont’s Peak――A winged Messenger――Back to Fort Laramie――To the Rocky Mountains again――On the Banks of the Bear River――Discovery of the Great Salt Lake――Embarkation on the Lake――Sudden Change in the Character of its Waters――From the Salt Lake through the Great Basin to Fort Hall and thence to the Columbia River――Attempt to return Home by a New Route――Lost in the Wilderness ――Discovery of Lake Tlamath――Search for an Opening in the Mountains――Discovery of Pyramid Lake――Meeting with Snake Indians――Hunger――Salmon discovered in a River flowing into the Lake――News of White Men on the South――All Hope of reaching United States abandoned――Fremont resolves to cross the Sierra Nevada――First Peak scaled――Meeting with Indians――A Gap in the Mountains discovered at last――Ascent of the Californian Mountain――Opening a Path through the Snow――A terrible Prophecy――Flight of Guide――First Sight of Seaboard Range of Mountains――Intense Excitement――Down the Eastern Slopes of the Californian Mountain to the Banks of the Sacramento――Arrival at Sutter’s Fort――Back to St. Louis by way of the South Pass ――Fremont’s third and last Journey. CHAPTER XV. Early History of the Mormons――Murder of Smith――Expulsion from Illinois――Across the frozen Mississippi――Through the Wilderness――Summons to the War――Young Men sent to the Aid of the Republic――Arrival on the Shores of the Great Salt Lake――Building of Salt Lake City――Expedition of Stansbury ――California ceded to the States――Discovery of Gold near Sutter’s Fort――World-wide Excitement――Rush of 30,000 Emigrants Westward――Terror of Indians at Approach of the White Men ――Sufferings in the Mountains――Jealousy of Settlers――Prairies set on Fire――Survivors of the 30,000 rescued by White Men from California. CHAPTER XVI.