My opponents boasted a good deal of their superior marksmanship, but on the trial, which began at short range, I beat them all pretty badly.

Helms was as good as his word and offered me twelve ounces for my gun and mule, which I took.

I thought a great deal of my fat little one-eyed mule, and I thought then, as I think now, how well she did her part on the fearful road to and from Death Valley.
Helms was now going to the valley to have a winter's hunt, for here the snow would fall four feet deep and no mining work could be done till spring, when he would return and work his claim again.
I now had all in my pocket, and when I got ready to go Mrs.Bennett was much affected at knowing that I would now leave them, perhaps never to return to them again.

She clasped me in her arms, embraced me as she would her own son, and said "Good luck to you--God bless you, for I know that you saved all our lives.

I don't suppose you will ever come back, but we may come back to Wisconsin sometime and we will try to find a better road than the one we came over.