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Show 8 PERSONAL ADVENTURES the ridge-pole. Upon some stones in front, enclosing a small fire, stood a fryingpan, filled with rich-looking beef collops, that set my mouth watering, and severely tested n1y honesty; for, although acorns are all very well in their way, and serve to stay the cravings of the stomach for awhile, I did not find my appetite any the less sharp, notwithstanding the quantity I had eaten. But I resisted the ten1ptation, and penetrated further into the tent. At one side of it lay a crow-bar, and an old sadrlle that had seen rough service; yet not a soul appeared, and n1y eyes were again ogling the collops, whilst an inward voice whispered how imprudent it was to leave them frizzling there, when, all at once, a little m~n, in a "hickory shirt," with his face all bedaubed 'vith pot-black and grease, darted out from some dark corner flourishing in one hand a lono- bowie-knife ' 1:> ' and in the other three by no means delicate slices of fat pork, which he at once dropped into the fryingpan, stooping down on one knee, and becoming immediately absorbed in IN CALIFORNIA. 9 watching the interesting culinary process then going on in it. I enjoyed now a fair opportunity of examiIling his features, and felt much gratified to recognise in hirn one of my fonner companions, the smartest man of his corps, and whon1 I haJ la.Rt seen at Monterey. "Good morning, F irn1ore," said I ; " I 'vish you joy of your occupation." He started up from his knees, and looked at me awhile in perfect amazement; then rushing upon me with .... such earnestness as nearly to throw me down, he shook n1e by the hand until I thought he 'vould work my arrn out of its socket. "What, you !'' he exclaimed. " Well, well. Who ever would have thought to see you here ! How did you come, and "'·here did you start from? You are looking all the 'vor e for wear." "I can't say you look quite as dapper, Firmore," replied I, "as you did the day 've 'vent ashore at Valparaiso. But I suppo e B 5 |