Aug. 27.—Have now written nearly through three large books, and still at it. The diary am confident will reach my people if I don’t. There are many here who are interested and will see that it goes north.
Aug. 28.—No news and no worse; set up part of the time. Dying off a third faster than ever before.
Aug. 29.—Exchange rumors afloat. Any kind of a change would help me.
Aug. 30.—Am in no pain whatever, and no worse.
Aug. 31.—Still waiting for something to turn up. My Indian friend says: “good news yet.” Night.—The camp is full of exchange rumors.
Sept 1.—Sanders taken outside to butcher cattle. Is sick but goes all the same. Mike sick and no longer a policeman. Still rumors of exchange.
Sept. 2.—Just about the same; rumors afloat does me good. Am the most hopeful chap on record.
Sept. 3.—Trade off my rations for some little luxury and manage to get up quite a soup. Later.—Sanders sent in to us a quite large piece of fresh beef and a little salt; another God-send.
Sept. 4.—Anything good to eat lifts me right up, and the beef soup has done it.