All we ever saw of them afterwards was their tracks, and the trail of the Indian that had driven them off.
The Indians in that section of the country did not keep horses, and therefore were not accustomed to the use of them, but stole them for food.
Brother Leavitt was under the necessity of going to Las Vegas, thirty-five miles distant, to get my brother to come with his team to take our wagon home.
As he did not return as soon as expected, I started to meet him. Not meeting him the first day, I stopped in a small cave for the night.
I had nothing to eat, and gathered some cactus leaves, or pods, to roast for supper.
They were a new variety to me, and had scarlet spots on them. (I afterwards learned from the Indians that they were poisonous.)
After cooking them in the embers, I ate a little, but they did not taste right. They produced a burning sensation in my stomach and pain in the glands of my mouth and throat. I soon became satisfied that I was poisoned.
My misery increased, and I became dizzy-headed. With no help near, I felt that my earthly career was nearly terminated, unless the God of Israel saved me, as I knew He had done many times before. I knelt down and earnestly asked Him to be merciful to me in my extremity, and save my life.
I then became very sick at the stomach, and vomited freely. Great thirst succeeded, and I soon exhausted the small supply of water in my canteen. This I soon ejected, when I became easy and lay down and slept until morning.
Not knowing whether my brother would come or not, I continued on my way to Las Vegas.