88 
CALIFORNIA ILLUSTRATED. 
Frederick Jerome, well known for his heroic efforts, in saying 
the passengers of the Ocean Monarch. He and his compan¬ 
ions were bound for the interior. I soon came out on the mar¬ 
gin of a prairie, some four miles in diameter, the road running 
through its center; I had but just entered upon it, when I dis¬ 
covered the track of a—not a grizzly bear, dear reader, but of a 
female. I did really discover the track of a female in California. 
It may seem a trivial circumstance to you, it was not so to me. 
A galvanic battery would not have created a more startling 
sensation, and I was half-tempted to faint in honor of the occasion. 
It was a small foot, encased in a slipper of the finest mould; then 
there wa3 such a witching air about it, so pert, the toes turned 
a little out, the heel set down with just enough decision, and 
a something coquettish in the way she raised it up ; then there 
was a sprightliness and elasticity, quite perceptible. I soon came 
to where she had turned round, as if she had been expecting 
me, and without designing to be silly, I soon found myself on a 
“ round trot.” I hurried on, buried in thought and conjecture, 
sometimes imagining it some one I had seen in the States ; the 
track seemed familiar. Sometimes I would remember having 
met her at a cotillon party, and then I would notice a change 
in the track, as if she had been thinking of the same thing, and 
taking some of the “ old steps;” I could see that the toe had re¬ 
moved a greater quantity of dust, as if she had been taking the 
standing, instead of the “chessa” balance. But the distance 
between us was fearful. I could see several miles and could not 
see her, and she might take another road. As these thoughts 
were running through my mind, I would come to myself, and 
find myself running at the top of my speed, the perspiration 
oozing from every pore. I was fast gaining the opposite side, 
and hope was in the ascendant. 
I began to think of my personal appearance, which is in such 
cases of the most importance. After a careful examination, I 
came to the conclusion that it was not very flattering. I had 
not shaved in six months; I had on an under-shirt and cravat, 
pantaloons and long boots, a Panama hat, blue flannel shirt out¬ 
side, over which was a belt with a sheath-knife, and a blue sash. 
I had seen men as badly dressed as myself. I was in hope she 
had, and hurried on. I soon reached the forest, and was on the 
