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CALIFORNIA ILLUSTRATED. 
night in the woods. It was quite dark, and as I was taking the 
saddle off my horse five very suspicious-looking natives came 
up, and were disposed to be inquisitive. To rid myself of them, 
I told them I expected a “ companiero.” They left with appar¬ 
ent reluctance. After kindling the fire, fearing they might re¬ 
new their visit, I put caps on my revolver, preparatory to load¬ 
ing it. As I was in the act of so doing my horse startled, looked 
wildly about, and, in a moment, I heard footsteps approaching. 
As they drew near, I thought they were in boots, and conse¬ 
quently Americans. I cried out, “Americano ?” They immedi¬ 
ately called my name. My surprise and pleasure can well be 
imagined as I recognized the voices of the Dodges, Shultz, 
Eiswald, and Hush. 
After mutual congratulations we prepared supper, and were 
soon seated around the fire, recalling the incidents of our voyage 
up the river. The elder Dodge was lying on a trunk near the 
fire, and late in the evening, as the muleteer was attempting to 
drive the horses back, one of them took fright, wheeled about, 
and in attempting to jump over the trunk, his forefeet came in 
contact with Dodge, knocking him off, and planting his hind 
feet into his back. We were struck with horror, supposing him 
dead, but after straightening him up, and washing his face and 
head, he was able to speak. He was still in a critical condition, 
and we were obliged to attend him during the night. The next 
morning, after a long hunt for our horses, we rode a short dis¬ 
tance to an American tent, and leaving the Dodges and com¬ 
pany, I rode on to Panama. The next day Mr. Dodge ar¬ 
rived, in a very feeble state of health, but eventually recovered. 
In a few days I returned to Gforgona, and sold the “Minerva.” 
She was drawn up into town, inverted, making the roof of the 
“United States Hotel,the first framed building erected in Gror- 
gona. On my way back to Panama, as I had got about half way 
through, I was surprised at meeting Mr. Hush. He informed 
me that he did not think Panama a healthy place, and . that he 
was on his return to the States. He sat on his horse, vvith a 
good deal of ease, his feet appearing to have on their best be¬ 
havior. He could not get them into the stirrups, still they 
appeared to go quietly along by the sides of the horse. Why 
he thought Panama unhealthy, was a mystery to some. I am 
