LITTLE HARVEY BELL. 185 
equipped himself with a redwood picket, advanced boldly upon the stage 
which just then came rattling and teetering along, near Geyserville, and, 
presenting his stick ordered the driver to halt. The driver obeyed and 
asked what was wanted. Little Harvey swelled his voice out big and gruff 
and commanded him to throw out the express-box (the usual summons of 
California robbers). The driver quietly obeyed. This little matter of busi- 
ness having thus passed off pleasantly without any ill-feeling and with 
true Californian nonchalance and gentlemanliness, the boy ordered the 
driver to proceed. A third time he obeyed, and was presently out of sight 
in the darkness, while the boy proceeded to break open the box. 
The California Indians are so often charged with the most arrant cow- 
ardice that it gives me much pleasure to record the above circumstance. 
