CHAPTER XIX.

TOUR TO THE GOLD-MINES.-LOSS OF HORSES.-FIRST NIGHT IN THE WOODS, -ARRIVAL AT SAN JUAN,-UNDER WAY.-CAMPING OUT.-BARK OF THE WOLVES.-WATCH-FIRES.-SAN JOSÉ.—A FRESH START.-CAMPING ON THE SLOPE OF A HILL.-WILD FEATURES OF THE COUNTRY.-VALLEY OF THE SAN JOAQUIN.—BAND OF WILD HORSES.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 20. A servant of James McKinley, Esq., led to my door this morning a beautiful saddle-horse, with a message from his master, desiring me to accept the animal as a token of his regard. The gift was most opportune, as I was on the eve of a trip to the gold-mines. To guard against contingencies I purchased another, and, to prevent their being stolen, placed them both in the government coral, where a watch is posted night and day. My companions on the trip were to be Capt. Marcy, son of the late secretary of war, Mr. Botts, naval storekeeper, and Mr. Wilkinson, son of our exminister to Russia.

Having procured a suitable wagon, we freighted it lightly with provisions, articles of Indian traffic, tools for working in the mines, cooking utensils, and blankets to sleep in. To this we attached four mules, but little used to the harness, and of no great power, but they were the best that could be got at the time. The whole was put under the charge of a man who was half sailor and half teamster, and not much of

either.

Thus accoutred, the team was sent ahead, and we were to follow the next day.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 21. The hour for starting having arrived, I sent my man to the government coral for my horses. He returned in a few moments with the intelligence that a party of the volunteers had broken into the coral during the night, and carried off ten horses, and among them both of mine! There was no time now for ferreting out thieves, or hunting stolen animals. Our wagon was on the way, and my companions were mounted and waiting. I hurried to Mr. S―, who I knew had a fine horse in his yard, and offered him two hundred dollars for the animal, but he declined parting with him. My only resource now was with Mr. T, who had three horses in his coral, but they were off a long journey the night before. I struck a bargain at a hundred dollars for one of them, and throwing on my saddle, was under way in a few minutes.

My horse held out pretty well for twenty miles, and then suddenly broke down. We were on the plain of the Salinas, and there was but little prospect of my being able to procure a substitute. But just at this crisis the mail rider hove in sight, with a horse in lead. I arranged with him for the spare animal, transferred my saddle to him, and with a farewell to my wearied steed, started again. We had directed our wagoner to proceed to San Juan, and expected to overtake him at that place before dark. But night