It was the miracle of the loaves and fishes over again! Bend after bend was turned and left behind, and still no Crossing, but late in the afternoon a shot was heard; then we saw a white rag on a pole; then we landed and beheld a large pile of rations, in charge of three men.

These men, Dodds, Bonnemort, and Riley, as we were days overdue, had about made up their minds we were lost, and had contemplated departing in the morning and leaving the rations to their fate.

Riley and Bonnemort were prospectors, who remained only to see us and make some inquiries about the river above.

They told me afterward we were the roughest-looking set of men they had ever seen.

Our clothes were about used up.
Powell prepared to go to Salt Lake, about five hundred miles away, to make preparations for our winter's mountain work, and we all wrote letters to send out.