IN CALIFORNIA 203 



cool juicy interior into my expectant fingers. It 

 was exceedingly refreshing on that warm day, in 

 taste very much like a watermelon, and the only 

 criticism I had to make was that it was extrava- 

 gantly provided with small, bony seeds. These, 

 however, were easily spat out ; though the boy, who 

 peeled a tuna too, for his own refreshment, ate his, 

 as I have seen country lads back East eat cherries, 

 stones and all. It was, on the whole, a pleasant ex- 

 perience, and brought me closer to old California 

 days than I had felt before. So, as I parted from 

 my little friend, I thought up my scanty Spanish 

 and gave him my many thanks. 



"Por nada, senor," he replied in the pleasant 

 Mexican phrase, "for nothing, sir." 



