OCR Text |
Show PERSONAL ADVENTURES as any Yankee, the value of the " go-ahead" principle, which he carried out to its fullest extent. "Well," he said, " glad to see you, massar. What Y?u tink? Him sell your saddle for sixty-five dallar. Dat good, eh ?" " I don't know, Antoine. I ought to know 'vhat you gave for the horse you swapped for it." " Well, Goran1ighty's truth, him cost me forty dallar. Bery good spec. dat, eh ?" " Rather, for you, Antoine ; though, as I wanted the beast, we both did well. What are you doing here?" '' Oh, not partickler, nohow, what him do. Sometime go arrands, sometime spec'late : anything for make n1oney. An' you?" '' I am on the look out, Antoine. I've been to the n1ines, and done very little good, and am come here to try my luck as a painter." "Well, now! Dat's de bery ting. Capital spec., dat saddle; so hin1 jist tell you so meting good." "What is it, Antoine 1'' • IN CALIFORNIA. 223 "You see dat boat, yon'er? Dere, on de beach, a stickin' in de mud?'' "Yes. What of it?" "Dat am b'long to California steamer. Dat am de Cap'ain's boat, and dere am de Cap'ain, 'longside. Him jist want a painter ; so you dam lucky." "Just the very thing, Antoine; for I can see it will not answer to stay in this place, kicking one's heels. I'll be off at once." " Well, I see you 'gain some time." "Yes, yes. Thank you heartily, Antoine. Good by, for the present." I shook hands with the good-natured fellow, and had got a few paces from him, when, turning about, I saw him grinning and rubbing his hands, as if in high glee. " Ah, ah ·!" he shouted after tne; " dam good spec., dat saddle; but tink you got it back now, eh ?" I could not help laughing at the observation, which implied a very great deal, and, • waving my hand to him, hurried down to the beach, where I at once accosted the Captain |