This seemed strange to me, for according to my idea he might as well have said, "You will be a Chinaman." I asked how that could possibly be? He replied, "By obedience to the gospel and baptism." I asked if the Mormons had a religion. He said, "Yes, the same that Christ taught; we believe in the New Testament." I replied, "That is what I believe; but I believe it as it reads." "Well," said he, "that is what we think; I guess you'll be a Mormon yet." This was something new to me and I was continually asking myself: How can I be a Mormon? On arriving at the fort, I went to Bishop Isaac Higbee's house where I was kindly received, his wife agreeing to care for me on reasonable terms. She is now living in Salt Lake City and has ever been a friend to me. I went back to camp and bade good-bye to my old friends and associates, determined that I would stay and see for myself, and if Mormonism was what they said it was, I would go no further for all the gold in California. Since I was ten years old I had believed there was something before me worth living for and that God would eventually answer my prayers and let me know how to serve Him. I often wonder why I am not more faithful, and if I will ever learn to do as I should. Much of my life seems to have been governed by circumstances over which I have had but little control. That is, I have been impelled by influences that urged me on to certain labors, especially among the Indians, which I have felt compelled to answer. CHAPTER III. My Scrutiny of the Mormons--Employment as an Indian Trader--Acquaintance with "Winter Mormons"--A Proposition of Theft--Loomas Threatens my Life--My Resolve to Kill him--He Finds his Death at Other Hands. After settling myself with the Bishop's family, I soon got so that I could hobble around a little. Everyone was kind and treated me with great confidence. I listened to the elders preaching and soon concluded they were honest and knew it, or were willful liars and deceivers. I was determined, if possible, not to be fooled, therefore I commenced to watch very closely. I soon found that the people took an interest in the Indians, and although they had been at war and the Bishop's son had been killed by them, there was no general feeling of bitterness. The Indians were around the fort more or less, and the people were desirous of friendship.