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Show 114 PERSONAL ADVENTURES atnongst the Americanos. Jack Scott was her beau ideal; and, as she never failed to mention his name in conversation, some of our boys had thus christened her; but who or what the object of her admiration was I never was able to ascertain. These four females had come up with the refugees on board the vessels of war from Lower California. As soon as the dance was over, I approached Augustina, and said- " Qui ere us ted Jumar, caballero f" at the same time offering her a Havana cigar. I thouO'ht this would have disconcerted her, 0 but she took the cigar, and smoked it with the sang froid of a Dutchman. vVell, said I, if that won't do, I will try another experiment; and accordin<Yly after a few \vords of conver· 0 ' sation on general subjects, asked her if she would have un vaso de aguarrdiente. But again was I surprised-the lovely creature, true to her assumed character, tossing off the contents without the slightest hesitation. One of the volunteers, to whom I mentiO· n ed IN CALIFORNIA. 115 the fact of these girls being in the room in disguise, proposed that we should go to the residence of old Maraquita, another of the women from the lower country, 'vith whom we were acquainted, and obtain from her the loan of some fernale dresses, so as to carry out the joke. This we were accordingly about to do, when a couple of well-dressed gamblers and three of the sailors, getting a hint of our project, resolved to share in the fun, and followed us pretty closely. My cotnpanion and I got into Maraquita's house, and had just borrowed a couple of dresses, when the party was heard outside demanding admittance. But Donna Matilda, the old lady's eldest daughter, had locked the door, and refused to give them admittance. The sailors burst in the door, smashing the lock to pieces, and we thereon declared that we would not return to the fandango. The two gamblers reproaching these men for their conduct a O'eneral "rough ' b and tumble" fight ensued in the street, which nearly proved fatal, as one of the sailors drew a loaded pistol, and was with difficulty pre- |