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Show 228 PERSONAL ADVENTURES Indian corn, and a little of which, tnixed with cold water, n1akes a very refreshing drink; and a number of small boxes of salt, pepper, and coffee; a large bladder of lard-or Californian butter, as the Yankees jestingly call it; and, lastly, a quantity of broken biscuit, mixed up with bits of string, tow, thongs, and scraps of leather, a cornb, a knife, and sundry other articles, too numerous to mention, but rather n1iscellaneous as an assortment. He fumbled a good while in the second bag, until he produced a scrap of dirty and crumpled-up paper, which he handed me to read. It proved to be the written agreement between him and his employer, and was intended, I suppose, as a sort of certificate of his good intentions. As we were well armed, we had nothing to fear, even bad his purpose been mischievous ; but we were so glad to have a new con1panion-especially one who possessed two horses-that no difficulty was raised to his becoming one of our party; and as he appeared equally glad of the chance of company, he accepted our invitation, and IN CALIFORNIA. 229 proceeded to make himself comfortable, by stretching his macheers and an undressed sheepskin before the fire, on which he extended himself, forming a pillow of his 8add1e, and placing his cutlass by his side. We were all stirring by daylight next morning, and were preparing breakfast, when some of the officers of the Ohio, who were on a shooting excursion, came up. They accepted of our hospitality, and bade us farewell with many kind wishes for our success. The deep sand considerably in1peded our progress, but the country generally was picturesque and pleasing, the land being alternately of the richest and of the barrenest description, now rising into lofty hills, now stretching into plains, or sinking into deep valleys. We marched at the rate of not more than twenty miles a day, and I soon began to appreciate the character of my companions. Halliday was a man of a strong constitution and powerful frame, and kept always in advance. Devin lagged behind, evincing a decided disinclination for our mode of travel- |