Here they discovered that the stock had been turned loose an hour before their arrival, the people stating that they did not expect the coach after its usual time was so long passed. Rumsey ordered them to send a man to gather up the team, which was done, and, at dark, the fellow came back, saying that he could not find them anywhere. The consequence was that they were obliged to lie over for the night. This was no great affliction; so they spent the time drinking whiskey, in mountain style--Bill Bunton doing the honors and sharing the grog. They had sense enough not to get drunk, being impressed with a reasonable conviction of the probability of the violation of the rights of property, if such should be the case. The driver had lost a pair of gauntlet gloves at the same place, before. At daylight, all arose, and two herders went out for the stock. One of them came back about 8 o’clock, and said that the stock was gone. A little before nine o’clock, the other herder came in with the stock that had hauled the coach over the last route. The only way they could manage was to put on a span of the coach horses, with two old “plugs” for the wheel. The whole affair was a plan to delay the coach, as the horses brought in were worn down stock, turned out to recruit, and not fit to put in harness. During the previous evening, Bob Zachary, who seemed a great friend of Wilkinson’s, told them that he had to go on horseback to Bannack, and to take a spare horse with him, which he wanted him to ride. The offer was not accepted at that time, but in the morning Bob told him that he must go, for he could not bring the horse alone by himself. The miserable team being brought out and harnessed up, Oliver’s regular coach, and an extra one came in sight, just at the creek crossing. Soon Rumsey shouted, “all aboard,” the other stages came up, and all the passengers of the three vehicles turned in, on the mutual consolation principle, for a drink. Rumsey who sat still on the box, called, “All aboard for Bannack,” and all took their seats but Wilkinson, who said he had concluded to go with Bob Zachary. Bill Bunton came out with the bottle and the glass, and gave Rumsey a drink, saying that he had not been in with the rest, telling him at the same time that he was going to Bannack himself, and that he wanted them to wait till he had got through with the rest of the passengers, for that then he would go with them. While Bunton was in the house, Rumsey had been professionally swinging the whip, and found his arm so lame from the exercise of the day before, that he could not use it. He thereupon asked the boys if any of them were good at whipping? but they all said “No.” It was blustering, cold and cloudy--blowing hard; they let down the curtains. Finally, Bunton appeared and Rumsey said, “Billy, are you good at whipping?” To which he answered, “Yes,” and getting up, whipped away, while Rumsey drove. A good deal of this kind of work was to be done,