150 A CALIFORNIA TRAMP. 



a body to the spacious ballroom and enjoyed with infinite 

 glee the antics of the obstreperous palefaces. One of the 

 latter having been jilted by his partner, entered the ranks of 

 the dusky aborigines, and, heedless of the consequences that 

 might ensue from the act, dragged one of them (a sort of one- 

 horse chief) out into the cotillon. The Digger took the joke 

 in good part, and capered about in great glee, occasionally 

 giving vent to his feelings in yells of delight, and war-whoops 

 delivered off-hand, as he was pulled and hauled by his not 

 very gentle comrade. His swarthy brethren appeared to enjoy 

 the sport as much as himself, and their gentle guffaws showed 

 them of a less stoical mood than their brethren west of the 

 mountains. 



While these saltatory festivities were in progress, our con- 

 ductors were on nettles for fear the imprudent among us would 

 commit some act provocative of future trouble by their famili- 

 arities with the savages. These Indians were the best natured 

 I met on my travels, and the only ones I ever saw enjoy a 

 hearty laugh ; but so changeable and treacherous were they by 

 nature, that the least going beyond the mark by our men 

 would anger them in a moment, and set them to concocting 

 some scheme for our injury. The Mormons, being the greatest 

 probable sufferers from any misunderstanding which might 

 arise, did their best to quietly prevent any outbreak; in fact, 

 throughout the journey they showed remarkable tact, both in 

 their dealings with the Indians and our own men. 



Bill Bently, our deserter, ow^ned a pup which he had bought 

 of a Mormon at Beaver. He was fat and sleek, but gave 

 little promise of future worth. A bright-looking, skeletonized 

 dog, owned by one of our Indian visitors, took Bently 's 

 attention, and he proposed a trade, and not knowing a Digger's 

 predilection, expected to give boot. The Indian gave one 

 look at the fat puppy, and with an affirmative grunt agreed 

 to swap, when the bargain was consummated in mutual satis- 



