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Show 38 PERSONAL ADVENTURES fering with the volunteers, so long as they endangered no lives by their pranks;." t~n1s, almost every one's turn came round In time, although, from some cause I am unable to explain, mine was deferred until the last. But I was not disposed to submit to the fate of the immortal Sancho Panza without at least making a stand against 'vhat I considered to be an invasion of individual rights ; and, receiving from one of my companions an intimation that my hour was come, and my tormentors at hand, I made a bolt into the berths of the married folks, into which anctu1n the band, however reckless and alive for mischief, durst not penetrate. In vain they called upon me to '' con1e out and be tossed like a man." In vain Judson assured me, on the faith of his own experience, that " it was nothing more than a mouthful of wind." In vain O'Reilly urged, as an additional ind nee~ ment, that, if I would only "thry it once, he'd be tossed with me for con1pany ." I was not to be seduced. On the other hand, 1ny companions were obstinate ; a council was IN CALIFORNIA. 39 held, in which the two parties I have named took the lead. I ·was in hopes they had renounced their project : not at all, as the sequel will show. They had withdrawn, and I was about to repair to my bunk, after waiting some time, to make sure my tormentors were not lying in ambush ; when suddenly there appeared the corporal of the guard, heading a file of n1en, their purpose being, as I was forthwith informed, to arrest me for violating the sanctity of the married quarters. Compelled to yield to this authority, I came out of rny ~anctuary ; when a loud laugh and a dance of exultation proclaimed the whole manmuvre to be a mere ruse-de-gum'Te, devised to n1a.ke me desert my place of refuge1 Another moment, and words, like myself, would have been literally tossed to the winds. But I was resolute and indignant, and, dra,ving my bowie-knife, made so threatening a demonstration with it, that the foremost fell back much disconcerted. I did not, however, intend murder. I had certainly yielded to an awkward impulse of self-defence, but reflec- |