TRAVELS in the californias. 
115 
write to my uncle in London, and he will inform my parents; 
another said write to my wife in *«****. Her heart is al¬ 
ready broken by my abandonment. Another tried to speak 
of his home; but grief choked his utterance. Graham was 
himself again. That hardy and high-toned energy of charac¬ 
ter which nature had given him, seemed to rise over mis¬ 
fortune, as his corporeal powers decreased. He was greatly 
enfeebled by his sufferings, and thought he might die on the 
passage to San Bias. “ But,” said he, “ I reckon these vil¬ 
lains will see me die like a man. And if I do die, I wish you 
to go to Tennessee and Kentucky, and tell the boys of our 
sufferings. My bones on the stake, their rifles will make 
spots on their vile carcases. Two hundred Tennessee rifle¬ 
men could take the country ; and it’s a mighty pity it should 
be .held by a set of vagabonds who don’t regard the honor of 
God or the rights of men. I have been here now seven 
years ; have always been a peaceable man, except when I took 
part with the Californians against the tyranny of Govern¬ 
ment officers sent up from Mexico. And now I am lassooed 
like a bear for slaughter or bondage, by these very men 
whose lives and property myself and friends saved. Well, 
Graham may live to prime a rifle again ! If he does, it will 
be in California ! Farewell to you. I hope we shall meet 
in Mexico.” The old man brushed a tear from his weather¬ 
beaten generous face, and we left him. 
The American repeated his visit to the sick Englishman. 
He had neither ate, drank, nor spoken. His limbs were en¬ 
tirely cold and motionless; fast sinking. The ladies in at¬ 
tendance were very compassionate, and bestowed on him 
every kindness he was capable of receiving. Yet how inhu¬ 
man the power which, calling itself a Government, authorises 
such murders ! The halter which swino’s at the bidding of a 
O O 
civil tribunal, the axe which flashes along the grooves of the 
guillotine, have their horrors; and the head picked up by 
the mob and shown while life yet speaks from the eyes, and 
the dying love of Freedom still clothes the countenance, 
n 
