Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-10-07

A CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE.

wound among the chaparral-covered
spurs below. Considerable crops of grain
had been gathered into corral, and a
number of horses were quietly straying
about. Yet with all the evidences Of
considerable possessions, the whole place
had an air of suspicious, mock repose.
Riding into the open square, saw that
one of the buildings was a store, and to
this rode, tying Kaweah to the piazza
post.
thought the whole world slumbered
when beheld the sole occupant of this
country store, red-faced man in panta-
looms and shirt, who lay on his back upon a
counter fast asleep, the handle of re-
volver graspedin his right hand. Itseemed
to me if were to wake him up little
too suddenly he might misunderstood my
presence and do some accidental damage
SO stepped back and poked Kaweah,
making him jump and clatter his hoofs,
and at once the proprietor sprung to the
door, looking fustered and uneasy.
| asked him if he could accommodate
me for the afternoon and night, and take
care of my horse; to which he replied, in
a very leisurely manner, that there was a
bed, and something to eat, and hay, and
that if was inclined to 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's hay and grain.
| loafed about for an hour or two. find
ing that Chinese cook was the only other
human being in sight, and then concluded
to pump the landlord. A half-hour's trial
thoroughly disgusted me, and gave it up
as a bad Job. | did, however, learn that
he was man of southern birth, of con-
| siderable education, which brutal life
| and depraved mind had not sufiiced fully
to obliterate. He seemed to care very
little for his business, which indeed was
small enough, for during the time 1 spent
there not single customer made his ap-
pearance. The stock of goods observed
on examination to be chiefly firearms,
every manner of gambling apparatus and
liquors, the few pieces of stuffs, barrels
and boxes of groceries appeared to be
disposed rather for ornament than for
actual sale.
From each of the mans trousers pockets
protruded the handle of a Derringer, and
| behind his counter were arranged in con-
venient position two OF three dOubled-bar-
relied shot-suns.
| remarked to him that he seemed to
have handily arranged arsenal, at which
he regarded me with cool, quiet stare,
polished the handle of one of his Der
ringers upon his trousers, examined the
percussion cap with great deliberation,
and then, with nod of the head, intend
ed to convey great force, said ''You don't
live in these parts" D fact for which
felt not unthankful.I
The man drank brandy freely and often,
and at intervals of about half an hour
called to his side plethoric old cat named
Gospel" stroked her with nervous rapidi-
ty, swearing at the same time in so dis
trait and unconscious q manner that he
seemed mechanically talking to himself
Whoever has travelled on the west coast
has not failed to notice the fearful volley
of oaths which the oxen drivers hurl at
their teams, but for ingenious flights of
fancy profanity l have never met the equal
of my host. With the most perfect good
nature and unmoved countenance he ut
tered florid blasphemies, which, l think
must have taken hours to invent. was
glad when bedtime came, to be relieved
of his presence, and especially pleased
when he took me to little separate build
ing, 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 more
than sixty feet off, was the gate of the cor
raj, which, when moved, creaked on its
rusty hinges in the most dismal manner.
As | lay upon my bed l could hear
Kaweah occasionally stamp the snoring
mumbled conversation of my host and his
| hn s,,a1 >;
to sleep, but lay there in a half doze, quite
conscious, yet Withdrawn from the present.
l think it must have been about II clock
when heard the clatter of couple of
horsemen, who galloped up to my hosts
building and sprang to the ground, their
Spanish spurs ringing on the stone. l sat
up in bed, grasped my pistol, and listened
The peach tree next my window rustled.
The horse moved about so restlessly that
| heard but little of the conversation, but
that little found of personal interest to
myself.
give as nearly as l can remember, the
fragments of dialogue between my host
and the man whom l recognized as the
elder of my two robbers.
when did he come ?"
"Wall, the sun might have been about
four hours.n
"Has his horse given out P"
| failed to hear the answer, but was
tempted to shout out, "Non'
Gray coat, buckskin breeches.n (My
dress.)
Going to Maripesa at seven in the
morning"
Il guess would mt, round here"
A low, muttered soliloquy in Spanish
wound up with growl.
"No, Antoine, not within mile of the
place"
''Sta buen."
Out of the compressed jumble of the
final sentence l got but one word, .'buck-
shot,"
The Spaniards mounted, and the sound
of their spurs and horses hoofs soon dice
away in the north, and lay for, half an
hour revolving .rys sorts of plans. The
safest course seeIad to be to slip out in
the darkness, and fly ON foot to the noun
talns, abandoning nv good Kaweah but