156 



LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



the nightly frosts ; the angular nights of geese and ducks 

 constantly passing overhead ; the sober tints of the foliage, 

 and the dead leaves that strew the ground ; the withering 

 grass on the plain, and the cold gusts, sometimes laden 

 with snow and sleet, that sweep from the distant snow-clad 

 mountain ; all these signs warn us to linger no longer in 

 the tempting valley of San Fernando, but at once to pack 

 our mules to cross the dreary and desert plains and inhos- 

 pitable sierras ; and to seek with our booty one of the 

 sheltered bayous of the Rocky Mountains. 



On the third day after their arrival, behold our moun- 

 taineers again upon the march, driving before them with 

 the assistance of half-a-dozen Indians impressed for the 

 first few days of the journey until the cavallada get accus- 

 tomed to travel without confusion a band of four hun- 

 dred head of mules and horses, themselves mounted on 

 the strongest and fleetest they could select from at least 

 a thousand. 



Fray Augustin and the hidalgo, from the house-top, 

 watched them depart the former glad to get rid of such 

 unscrupulous guests at any cost, the latter rather loath to 

 part with his boon companions, with whom he had quaffed 

 many a quartillo of Californian wine. Great was the 

 grief, and violent the sobbing, when all the girls in the 

 Mission surrounded Juanita to bid her adieu, as she, 

 seated en cavalier on an easy-pacing mule, bequeathed her 

 late companions to the keeping of every saint in the calen- 

 dar, and particularly to the great St Ferdinand himself, 

 under whose especial tutelage all those in the Mission were 

 supposed to live. Pedrillo poor forsaken Pedrillo a sul- 

 len sulky half-breed, was overcome, not with grief, but with 

 anger at the slight put upon him, and vowed revenge. He 

 of the " sangre regular," having not a particle of enmity 

 in his heart, waved his arm that arm with which he had 

 mowed down the enemies of Carlos Quinto and requested 

 the mountaineers, if ever fate should carry them, to Spain, 

 not to fail to visit his quinta in the vega of Genii, which, 

 with all in it, he placed at their worship's disposal con 

 muchissima franqueza. 



