The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-11-30

Toward the late afternoon, trotting
down gentle forest slope, came in sight
OF number of rancho buildings, group
ed about a central open space. A small
stream flowed by the out-buldings and
wound among chaparral-covered spurs be-
low Considerable crops of grain had
been gathered into 2 corral, and a num-
her OF horses were quietly straying about.
Yet with all the evidences of considerable
possession, the whole place had an air of
suspicious, mock repose. Riding into the
open square, | saw that enc of the build
ings was a store, and to this rode, tying
kaweah to the piazza post
! thought the world slumbered when
beheld the sole occupant of this country
store, a red-faced man in pantaloons and
shirt, who lay on his back upon a counter
fast asleep, the handle of a revolver
grasped in his right hand. 1t seemed to
me if | We're to wake him up u little too
suddenly he might misunderstood my
presence and DO some accidental damage :
so | stepped back and poked Kaweah.
making him jump and chatter his hoofs,
and at once the proprietor sprung to the
door, looking clustered and uneasy
asked him ii he could accommodate
lily lbt lilt tltltIuopIi anu Hl1ul, anu rake
care of my horse to which he replied in
very leisure manner that there was Il
bed, and something to eat, and hay, and
that it | was inclined 10 take the chances.
| might stay.
Being in mind to take the chances,
did stay, and my host walked out with me
to the corral, and showed me where to get
kaweah hay and grain.
| loated about for an hour or two, find
ING that Il Chinese cook was the only other
human being in sight, and then concud-
Cd 10 pump the landlord A half hours
trial thoroughly disguised me, and | gave
il up as IA bad Job. | did, however, learn
that he was a man of Southern birth, Of
considerable education, which brutal
life and depraved mind had not sutliced
fully to obliterate. He seemed to care
very little for his business, which indeed
was small enough, for during that time
spent there not Il single customer made
his appearance. The stock of goods
observed on examination to be chiefly fire.
arms, every manner of gambling appara-
tus and liquors, the few pieces of stuffs,
barrels and boxes of groceries, appeared
10 be disposed rather for ornament than
for actual sale.
From each of the mans trousers pockets
protruded the handle of q Derringer be-
hind his counter were arranged in con-
venient position two or three double
barreled shot guns.
| remarked to him that he seemed to
have q handily arranged arsenal, at which
he regarded me with cool, quiet stare,
polished the handle of one OF his Derrng-
els upon his trousers, examined the per-
cussion cap with great dellberation, and
then, with Il nod of the head, intended to
convey great force, said, "You don't live
in these parts''-a fact for which felt not
unthanktul.
The man drank brandy freely and often,
and at intervals of about half an hour
called to his side a plethoric old cat named
"Ciospel," stroked her with nervous rapid
lty, swearing at the same time in so Gls-
trait and unconscious manner that he
seemed mechanically talking to himself.
Whoever has travelled on the west coast
has not tailed to notice the fearful volleys
of oaths which the oxen drivers hurl at
their teams, but for ingenious flights of
fancy profanity have never met the equal
OF my host. With the most perfect good
nature and movedcountenance he utter
ed florid blasphemies, which, I think must
have taken hours to invent. | was Glad
when bedtime came to he relieved Of his
presence, and especially pleased when he
took me to the little separate building, in
which was narrow single bed. Next
this building on the left was the cook
house and dining room, and upon the
right lay his own sleeping apartment
Directly across the square, and not moe
than sixty feet off, was the gate Of the
corral, which, when moved, creaked on
It's rusty hinges in the most dismal man
her.
AS lay upon my bed | could hear
Kaweah occasionally stamp; the snoring
of the Chinaman on one side, and the
low, mumbled conversation of my host
and his squaw on the other. felt no in
clination to sleep, but lay there in half
dose, quite conscious, yet Withdrawn from
the present
| think it must have been about II
o'clock when | heard the clatter of a
couple of horse-men, who g.,loped up to
my hosts building and sprang to the
ground, their Spanish spurs ringing on
the stone. ! sat up in bed, grasped my