They had selected two oxen for the women to ride one to carry water and one to carry the four children.

There were no saddles but blankets enough to make a soft seat, and they proposed to put a band or belt around the animals for them to hold on by, and the blankets would be retained in place by breast and breeching straps which we had made.

They had found out that it was very difficult to keep a load of any kind upon an ox, and had devised all this harness to meet the trouble.
Bennett had one old bridle ox called Old Crump, which had been selected to carry the children, because he was slow and steady.

How in the world do you expect it to keep the children on ?--said I."Well"-- said Bennett, with a sort of comical air, about the first relief from the sad line of thought that had possessed us all--"We have taken two strong hickory shirts, turned the sleeves inside, sewed up the necks, then sewed the two shirts together by the tail, and when these are placed on the ox they will make two pockets for the youngest children, and we think the two others will be able to cling to his back with the help of a band around the body of the ox to which they can cling to, with their hands." Now if Old Crump went steady and did not kick up and scatter things, he thought this plan would operate first rate.

Now as to the mule they proposed as we knew how to pack the animal, that we should use her to pack our provisions so they would go safe.
From a piece of hide yet remaining John and I made ourselves some new moccasins, and were all ready to try the trip over our old trail for now the third time, and the last, we hoped.
Mrs.Bennett and Mrs.Arcane had taken our advice, and in cooking had not put too much of the flour or beans into the soup for the children and they had gotten along nicely, and even began to smile a little with satisfaction after a full meal.