The party traveled four miles the first day; and their camp fires were visible below the summit.

The next day they traveled six miles and crossed the divide.
They were starving, cold, worn out, their feet frozen to bursting, their blood chilled.

At times they were caught in some of the furious storms of the Sierras.

They did not know their way.

On the 27th of December certain of the party resolved themselves to that last recourse which alone might mean life.