It was proposed that one of us should accompany the man on a prospecting expedition, that we should take plenty of provisions with us, and search until we should discover such diggings as we desired. To this proposal, both parties agreed; and I was the one chosen, by Johnson and my other two companions, to represent them in the expedition--the expenses of which were to be equally shared by all. Before starting, I left with young James Johnson my share of the gold we had already obtained--which amounted to about sixty ounces. The hunter and I started--taking with us three mules. Each of us rode one--having our roll of blankets lashed to the croup of the saddle. A sixty pound bag of flour, some other articles of food, a tent, and the necessary "prospecting" tools formed "the cargo" of the third mule, which, in the language of California, was what is called a "pack-mule." My fellow prospecter was only known to me by the name of Hiram. I soon discovered that he was not an agreeable companion--at least, on such an expedition as that we had undertaken. He was not sociable; but, on the contrary, would remain for hours without speaking a word; and then, when called upon to say something, he would do so in a voice, the tones of which were anything but musical. The animal I bestrode had been christened "Monte," that of Hiram was called "Poker," and the mule carrying "the cargo" was "Uker." With such a nomenclature for our beasts, we might easily have been mistaken for a pair of card-sharpers. Our progress over the hills was not very rapid. We were unable to go in a direct line; and were continually wandering around steep ridges, or forced out of our way by tributaries of the main river--which last we were frequently compelled to ascend for miles before we could find a crossing place. Although fortunate in having good mules, I do not think that our travel averaged more than fifteen miles a day, in a direct line from where we started, though the actual distance travelled would be over thirty! Late in the evening of our third day out, our pack-mule, in fording a stream, got entangled among the branches of a fallen tree; and, while trying to extricate the animal out of its dilemma, Hiram was pulled into the water, and jammed against a limb--so as to suffer a serious injury. That night we encamped by the stream--near the place where the accident had happened; and, about midnight, when I was changing my mule--Monte-- to a fresh feeding place, the animal became suddenly alarmed at something, and broke away from me--pulling the lazo through my hands, till not only was the skin peeled clean off my fingers, but one or two of them were cut clean to the bone. I reproached myself for not sooner having had the sense to let go; but, as usual, the reproach came after the damage had been done.