120 THE i*OGY Days akd now: 



CHASED BY WOLVES IN CALIFORNIA. 



Oecoming tired of the gold mines, and desiring a change, I 

 determined to go to San Francisco, and shoot wild fowls for 

 the city market. On the boat from Sacramento down the river, 

 I heard some passengers speaking of Noble's lanche. They 

 thought he was a South Carolinian, and I was satisfied 

 it was my old friend and schooll-mate, Alick, a son of 

 ex-Gov. Noble, of S. C. Many a time had we hunted together 

 in the mountains of N. C, so concluded to change my pur- 

 pose for the present, and pay him a visit. From San Francisco 

 I took a small steamer to Petaluma, and from thence not being 

 able to secure a conveyance, after receiving instructions as to 

 the route, struck out on foot, a distance of sixteen miles. 



I always carried my shot gun, and my way leading some dis- 

 tance down a creek, discovered a number of fine English ducks, 

 and soon became engaged in shooting and packing my game, 

 oblivious to latitude, or longitude, or the flight of time, nor 

 did the waning hours occur to me till late in the afternoon ; 

 nor had I paid any attention to the instructions given me as 

 to destination, was satisfied I had wandered considerably out 

 of my coarse, so gave up the sport and turned my attention to 

 the seeking of my friend's home, still hoping to reach it before 

 night fall ; but dark overtook me trudging along, with a heavy 

 pack of ducks swung across my shoulders, tired and foot-sore. 

 I was thinking of my far-off home, of friends and comforts left 

 behind. A sudden feeling of desolation occupied my mind, and 



