Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1857-05-02

'ho et' edH, anu against TOcK, the party
OF Frenchmen had lighted their camp
fires. After plcketing our animals, and
discussing the merits of our forest meal
We sauntered over to our neighbors'
c,mp. and as is customary to this day
in that part of the State, while moving
only few rods, We carried our rifles
md P'pcs-our pipes to smoke, and
our rifles for CASES of emergency The
usual salutations over, we seated our
selves, and chatted and smoked as ia
millarly as though We were old ac-
4uaIn; ances.
! The moons full disc began to silver
Ger The hilI-tops, and lured by its rays,
as it ligh'ed up peak after peak that
environed US, strolled TO the edge Of
the timber, watching each outline OF
the rugged rocks, as they were brought
out in bold relief against some serrated
peak that loomed above its neighbor,
while food of light poured in between
the broad seams of broken conglomer-
ate that lay piled in shapeIess masses
upon each other. High above neigh
boring precipice lowered the lnoutain
pines, looking like an army of giants,
while away in the dim distance, to the
eastward. as seen through a canon,
one snow clad monarch's lofty top, sill
vered DER with eternal snow, showed
its white peak, like the dim outline of
some huge spectre
'.It stands before u.s.
A mount of snow fretied with golden pinnacles
The very sun, as though he worshpped there, lin-
gers"
1t was lovely night. The air was
just cool enough to quiet the fover of a
not days's ride, and lull the mind and
body to sweet repose and few had
better opportunity to enjoy its beauty
than l. seatet as | was, alone. The
light of the moon pierced each spot
with her beams, lighting up the early
drops of dew that glistened upon the
foil 'ge, the reflection Of which resem-
bled the thousand FREELY lamps of
tropical cline. [ watched the twink.
ling stars, gazed long upon the belt of
Orion, and tracked the handle of the
Great Dipper as it revolved, to learn
the hour of the night, as | had done
many times before, but In far differ
eni place, in the land of civilization, at
home not as now, amid the Sierras,
and on the verge of wilderness. How
natures serenity in such spot awak-
ems the latent fire Of holy worship, or
recalls the teachings of early years, for
there, amid such scenes, where the
stiffness is unbroken save by the pulsa-
ton within the breast, comes up every
deed in panoramic form, and as they
pass in review, they cause chill of
unpleasant feelings at their enormity,
or the st,li, sweet consolation of inno-
cence pervades the breast, and settles
upon the soul, with heavenly light,
looking upon the past, while uhe pre-
sent is with us alone, making us feel as
# we were upon the verge OF eternity.
Sinner or saint would knoel and ac>
knowledge that there is God. As l
noticed the latehesa OF the hour indi-
Gated by the Dippsr's handle, l arose
to my feet, exclaiming, as | did so,
Yes, there is God! A hand was
laid upon my shoulder, and two flash
ing eyes gaz-d into mine, while pis-
tol was presented against my breast.
Long, black hair fell upon the Shouts
ders of my opponent and the two dark
orbs, peere into my face with steady
gaze that thrilled to my very soul
DO you believe there is a God p
said be, without moving his position.
| replied that i did,
Il believe, SO too, else you would
not be alive now, he said, in a very
quet tone Of voice. He replaced the
pistol in his belt, and then continued
i wish to talk with you for few mo-
ments, and as we arc old friends, You
will accord me that satisfaction
old friends 1 do not remember
ever meeting you before, and the man.
ner in which you just accosted me
Don Carlos said he, interrupting
me, Il know you have no arms about
you, and if | wished to kill you, | could
do it without stratagem' He placed
whistle to his lips, and blew shriIl
blast that echoed among the rocks like
the chirping of thousand squirrels
A quick reply was heard IN answer from
the top of the hill.
He then seated himself at the foot
of an oak tree, saying, at the same
time, 'Slt down here, Don Carlos, We
viii not be interrupted n"w.' He be-
gan leanin careIessly against tree,
taking flask from hiss pocket, swallow
ing some Of its contents, and then pas
sing 1T to me, i never knew man to
escape death and be 50 near to it as
you have been; yes, and your whole
party
stared at him so wildly that he re-
plid: 'Your party are all safe, | want
to talk with you. There is a party Of
men encamped just back of this ridge,
who would willingly have cut all your
throats, but coming along towards thus
spot, after accommodating your cabala-
do and camp, l found one of the boys
creeping coyote>like towards you, with
knife long enough to cut your throat
as you sat. When within a few steps
of you, l saw him, and turned him from
his purpose.
Did you kill him ? l eagerly in-
quired.
'Oh, no. he quietly replied, that