We saddled our animals and hurriedly pushed forward through the darkness, traveling several miles before we again went into camp.

Next morning it was snowing fiercely, but we proceeded as best we could, and that night we succeeded in reaching Oak Grove ranch, which had been built during the summer.

We here obtained comfortable accommodations and plenty to eat and drink--especially the latter.
Scott and Charley were great lovers and consumers of "tanglefoot," and they soon got gloriously drunk, keeping it up for three days, during which time they gambled with the ranchmen, who got away with all their money; but little they cared for that, as they had their spree.

They finally sobered up, and we resumed our journey, urging our jaded animals as much as they could stand, until we struck Marysville, on the Big Blue.
From this place to Leavenworth we secured first-rate accommodations along the road, as the country had become pretty well settled.
It was in February, 1859, that I got home.

As there was now a good school in the neighborhood, taught by Mr.Divinny, my mother wished me to attend it, and I did so for two months and a half--the longest period of schooling that I ever received at any one time in my life.