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Show 130 PERSONAL ADVENTURES tion cost them many an hour's bard labour, as I well remember. Having again incidentally alluded to "Black Jack," I may as well here narrate a painful episode ,vhich was related to us, as we sat eating our food, by one of the volunteers who had been a long time in his company, and who had come with us from 1\lonterey. Hr, was one of the parties concerned in the expedition I am about to refer to, and which ,vill .illustrate the summary vengeance with which when they are suspected of any offence, the p;or Indians are visited, without formality of trial or proof of guilt. As nearly as I can remember, I give the substance of our com· rade's narrative. Whilst his company was staying at Mon-terey, some horses were stolen from the cavallard; and suspicion falling on son1e Indians ,vhose tribe dwelt in the vicinity, a detachment of men was ordered to go in search of the stolen property, and, at the same time, to survey the country, and suppress any attempt at a rising amongst the natives. During this IN CALIFORNIA. 131 excursion, which proved unsuccessful with regard to the recovery of the lost property, of which no trace could he found, one of the men lost the track, and was not again heard of alive. As desertion wa~ out of the question, it was conjectured he had fallen a prey to the out-lying Indians, in revenge for the invasion of their country ; and, on their return to Monterey with this unfortunate intelliO'ence b ' they received instructions to go out again in search of him. This time, "Black Jack'' was of the party. As they were upon the point of setting out, a runner hrought news of the • • mtssing man. 1-Iis body had been found cut to pieces, and several arrows sticking in different parts of it. The object of the expedition was no"r changed : vengeance \Vas the word, and "Black Jack" vowed he \Vould hav~ it. After many days and nights of travelling through regions the most difficult of access, they came upon a party of Indians in the gorges of the lofty mountains of that district; but they denied all kno\v ledge both of the horses and of the Inurdered man hintinO' ' b' |