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Show 220 PERSONAIJ ADVENTURES paint his house, and made up rny mind to refuse the offer. I pasRed my first night in San Francisco stretched upon a form, in a tavern, where the boisterous mirth of a rude crowd of revellers effectually prevented me from dream· ing of anything else but drutns and cymbals clattering in most execrable confusion and discord. Once I thought I was drowning; for I experienced the peculiar roaring sensation of deafness incidental to immersing one's head in the water; but, on awakening, I found that one of the company, being waggishly inclined, had poured some of the liquor he was drink· ing into my ear. I thought it a very poor joke, but laughed at it as though I very much relished it; and, altering my position, dozed off again, and remained in a dog's sleep until the morning .. IN CALIFORNIA. 221 CHAPTER XXV. A start in search of fortune-Antoine of MontereyMy first venture-The California liner-Difficulties of captains in getting crews-Cheap lodgings at the Buckland -1 set up in business-My success-! take a partnerThe Yankee miner-More news about the "diggins" -My second partner-His squaw and squaller-Novel cottageThe season in San Francisco-Scarcity of good waterValue of a horse and cart-Wages and profits. I was stirring betimes in the morning, and, after refreshing myself by plunging my fevered head into a bucket of cold water, proceeded to look about me for employment, being fully alive to the necessity of activity. Fortune signally favoured me, by thro\ving me in the way of Antoine, a negro from Monterey, whorn I had formerly known, and 'vhom I met as I directed n1y steps towards the beach. It was an agreeable surprise ; for he was a shrewd, industrious fellow, and appreciated, as keenly |
