But troubles thickened about them.

In their wanderings one brother fell and broke his leg, and the others were obliged to go on and leave him to die in the wilderness.

Another, worn out and starving, gave up by and by, and laid down to die, but after two or three weeks of incredible hardships, the third reached the settlements of California exhausted, sick, and his mind deranged by his sufferings.

He had thrown away all his cement but a few fragments, but these were sufficient to set everybody wild with excitement.

However, he had had enough of the cement country, and nothing could induce him to lead a party thither.