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Show 508 AU'fOHlOGRAPHY OF of eighteen United States dragoons, who came to me to be fitted out with citizen's clothing, as they had brought to a sudden period their service to their country. It was an impossible thing at that time to retain troops in California, for the produce of the mines held out a ~emptation to desert that none seemed able to resist, as more gold could be dug sometimes in one day than would pay a private for a year's service in the army; even officers of considerable rank not unti ·equently threw aside epaulette and sash, and shouldered the pick to repair to the diggings. While at Sonora I learned that Colonel Fremont was at Mariposa, and I made a journey over there for the purp?se of seeing him. I was disappointed in ·my expectatiOn, and started to return home again. While proceeding quietly along, having left the main road and t~ken up a hollow, I perceived two men approachmg me ~rom the opposite direction, running at the top of their speed, and a crowd of Indians after them in pursuit. When they came up, they shouted to me to turn and fly for my life, or the Indians wo.uld ce:tainly massacre me. I bade thein stop, and quiet thmr fears. Seeing my self-possession, notwithstanding the near approach of the Indians, they at len~th ha.I~ed, an~ approached close to me for protectiOn against thmr pursuers. I then commanded the Indians to stand, telling them that they were my men. They said they were not aware of that, or they should not ~ave chased them. The Indians I was acquainte~ With ; they had been frequently to my house to invite me to their village. They wished to purchase ·good~ of me, and had promised me a mule-load of gold ~ust If I would only supply them with what they were In need of. I accompanied the~ to their village, but • JAMES P. BECKWOUR'fH. 509 my two rescued companions were not admitted into their lodges. . They then renewed their prmnise of the mule-load of gold dust if I would bring out the O'oods they wanted. I never went to them, although it was remiss in me, for they had a great quantity of gold dust. I left after a brief visit, and rejoined the two men. They could not sufficiently express their gratitude to me for their deliverance, as they considered my opportune. appearance alone saved their lives. Recoining tired of my business in Sonora, for inactivity fatigued me to death, I disposed of my interest in it for six thousand dollars, and went on to Sacramento City with the money in my pocket. From this place I traveled on to Murderer:s Bar, which lie& on the middle fork of the American River; here I found my old friend Chapineau house-keeping, and staid with him until the rainy season set in. Thence I proceeded to Greenwood Valley to establish my winter quarters, but I was seized with an attack of inflammatory rheumatism, and I had a nice time of it that winter. Before I was able to get about, I was called on by the inhabitants to go several miles to shoot a grizzly bear, and as I was unable to walk the distance, several of them volunteered to carry me. The bear was in the habit of walking past a row of cabins every morning on his return to his den, he having issued forth the preceding night to procure his evening meal. They had fired several shots at Bruin as he passed, but he had never deigned to pay any attention to the molestation. I mounted a horse, and rode some distance along his customary path, until I came to a tree which offe~·ed a fair shelter to await his approach. I placed Iny back against it as a support while I awaited his coming, the neighbors drawing off to a safe distance to |