When this section was left behind, he advanced rapidly along the line, for the surface of the gentle crescent swell was smooth, its grade fairly regular, and its contour fixed by nature.

Essential points he marked by stones, with merely their surfaces exposed, so that if noticed they would be considered scattered pieces of rock from the hills.

At the proper time they would constitute guides for later staking.
Evenings Bryant spent in developing his notes and in making tracings of the canal sections covered.

During the day hours, when he knew watchful eyes were on him, he made a topographical survey of his ranch; work that he could carry on openly.

The five thousand acres comprising the tract had a general direction of east and west, being about four miles long and two miles wide, which for the most part lay equally on each side of Perro Creek.