The Sierra citizen., 1854-04-29

accommodation, such as furnishing milk.
etc.. and cooking. He stated that his
master was at the "Hall," and would net
be down through the day, therefore there
would be no restraint on our merry
making; which meant that we could get
tight and bawl as loud as we chose with
out fear of offending the "old man."
Having regaled ourselves for an hour
or so beneath the old oak with several
pitchers of juleps and segar, our boat
was again manned and we showed of to the
fishing grounds, about threc-fourths of a
mile distant, where we were Joined by
two other boat loads--making in all near
f,rty men without counting the darkies.--
Our boats veered round among the rocks.
leaving representative or two on each
we'll supplied with tackle. and the whole
party was soon busily engaged bobbing
for nibble. Col. w. and Mr.. T.. were
to occupy one rock together, and OBJ
served as they got out of the boat an
alcoholic revolver Of capacious Dimensions
peeping from rs side pocket, but as all
of US calculated upon having something
similar, though of smaller calibre, no re-
marks were made, and these gentlemen
were left to fish and imbibe at pleasure
Myself and q French friend, Mr.. T., Sc
lected pretty nook of the island. pro-
tected from the sun, where we sat con-
versing and drawing the finny tribe from
the deep clear water, unobserved by any
of the company located on the rocks,
though we had a fine view Of their move
ments. Every now and then some of
those exposed to the sun would call for
the boat to so ashore and hunt in the cool
air and refresh themselves at the spring
| cast my eyes several times towards Mg,
H., attracted by the sound of his wild
hilarity, and my French friend occasionally
tipped me the wink, as much as to say,
she's getting merry and we'll soon have
some iun." Presently, hearing a splash
and an unusually loud shout from ali
quarters of the fishing grounds, ! peeped
over large rock to my left, and there
was 1. houndering away like 9 porpoise
in the clear stream, while Col. W. stood
somewhat in the position Of the Indian
woman on the east portico CT the Capitol,
with his arms extended to their full length,
and his fishing rod held toward the neaU
breed, in anxious expectation of getting a
bite. But the amphlDlOus animal wouldn't
bite-he dislained the bait, and struck
for an element better adapted to the use
of his fippers. When he reached the shore
he shook himself, like dog just emerged
from cold bath, and quietly took seat
to try his luck from terra .ti1ma. In the
meantime Mr.. F. supplied him with s-ve-
raj shots from our pocket pistol, and his
ducking was considered good joke.
~ X
The sun had some hours passed the
meridian, and all the fish were gathered
up to make u grand fry; a fire was built,
and pans innumerable taken from the ham
pers, while each of the forty was bolster
Gus in suggestions as to the best method
Of preparing our picnic meal. No definite
conclusion could be arrived at in this
general hubbub, and to facilitate the
dinner we all agreed to compromise by
appointing Mr.. T., who appeared to be
the coolest man in the lot, standing as II.
did in natures own embellishments, except
the addition OF shirt, chef de cuisine. Old
Sol above, the fire in front, and contents
of the pistol inside, had an extraordinary
effect on our chief, and I could not help
but note his unsteady gait and the hush
upon his cheek as he moved among the
pans and sooty cooks. Soon his thoughts
scared above the pots and pans, and ne
undertook to give us an impromptu intel
lectual advertisement. The prelude ter
minated, point after point he gained--ap-
plause became vociierous-he was now
reaching for the climax; holding aloit his
arms in extatio gesticulation, he lost his
equilibrium, overpOwered by his own elo-
quence, and dropped, all doubled up, net
to the ground, butt in a frying-pan. l
shall never forget the serio-comic express
sion of his countenance as he extricated
himself ard rolled over. Reader, we
gathered him up Ikea wet dash rag emblem
of his Office, and slowed him in the boat
invalided!
The dinner was now fairly under Weigh
a half dozen or more large fires were
burning, and each pretty well covered up
with pots, kettles and frying-pans; and /
can almost fancy at this late day that /
hear the appetite invigorating hiss as the
cold fish dropped into the boiling fat
Angling for this day was dispensed with;
already we had caught enough to satisfy
double the number of hungry stonlachs
present,a and to prevent enaui. proposition
was started for those not occupied in the
culinary department to go down on the
sand beach and bathe till called to dinner.
This proposition was advocated in the
strongest, and may say most peremptory
terms by the cooks, who pronounced our
presence decided nuisance, and swore
that unless we vacated the premises, SO as
to allow them "room and air, they would
mutiny and toss the fries to Davy Jones.
The latter part of this argument had the
desired efect-there was no resisting it,
it was so Convincing that no defense could
be set up; and per force we struck bee
line for the beach; some. however, who
fancied the land better than water fell into