20 Reminiscences of 



of birds; and that I could obtain three dollars per 

 dozen for any kind. 



Securing tag cards of the most promising city 

 market-men, I directed myself to the port of Alviso, 

 at the foot of the bay adjoining the promised land. 

 Though my finances were low, not having even the 

 fifty cents to defray my passage down the bay, I was 

 exultant, breathing freely of hope and oxygen. The 

 absence of base lucre was a trifling item when ex- 

 pectation loomed so brilliantly before me, and I had 

 no difficulty in gaining the consent of the captain 

 of the boat for a free passage when I explained the 

 object of my trip, and he seemed very much amused at 

 my enthusiasm. 



My eldest brother, who was much opposed to my 

 absurd scheme, as he termed it, and annoyed at my 

 refusal to engage with him in business, learning of 

 my proposed departure, made his appearance at the 

 wharf just about as the boat pulled out, and vainly 

 besought me to desist, which I positively refused, 

 and also the pecuniary aid he proffered. As the boat 

 parted from the wharf I stepped upon it, and my 

 brother, as a dernier, tossed a twenty-dollar gold 

 piece at my feet, which I promptly threw back at his 

 own, and bid him adieu. 



At Alviso, where I arrived before dark, I had no 

 difficulty in getting credit for a good lay-in of pow- 

 der, shot, and percussion caps, the latter then being 

 in use for the muzzle-loaders in vogue, and in the 

 latter respect I was equipped with my much-treas- 

 ured double-barrelled companion, which that night I 

 placed for safe-keeping under my pillow when I re- 

 tired. I pushed on two or three miles from the 



