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Show 268 PERSONAL ADVENTURES duties to perforrn, and as soon as I-Ialliday 1nade his appearance, they c'ommenced a tirade against him about their supper. "\Vhat a humbug you are," said Mr. Drew, " to be amusing yourself Atrolling about, vvhen you ought to be grinding the coffee! At this rate, 've shan't have supper till nine." " I-Ialliday always sneaks away when there i anything to be done," quoth Mr. Devin. " You are unjust," replied I-Ialliday, indignantly; "I am always ready to contribute to the cotnfort of the party. I was the last to grind the coffee, and the last but one to rnake the fire. Besides, I have been looking after the horses." "Now, boys," said I, thinking this a fitting opportunity for the execution of my project, "I must have my say in this matter. When we first formed ourselves into a party, I had hoped that the circnrnstances in which we were placed, and the object which we had in vie"', would have taught us the necessity of forbearance and mutual reliance; but the jeaJ<? us and angry feelings that have marked our IN CALIFORNIA. 269 progress thus far, and the little prohability that I see before us of a better understanding, have forced me to a conclusion, at which I have most unwillingly arrived, that we are but ill adapted to travel as a company, anu that ,ve shall best consult our interests by separating at once." After son1e discusRion, in which a good deal of unpleasant feeling \Vas exhibited, the suggestion was ultirnately agreed to, and we broke up into two parties, the one consisting of Drew, Devin, and Parker, and the other, of I-Ialliday, Frederic, and myself. It no\v ren1ained to be seen which of us would get to the mines first; and in order to lose no time, I and my two companions started at an early hour on the following tnorn ing, leaving our quondam friends in the enjoytnent of their slumbers. My horse being large aud strong was packed with the provisions; the two spare anirnals, Frederic's lame horse which had long since worn off its leather shoe, and the broken-down Rosinante fon11erly ridden by Devin, being too con1pletely " used up" to |