JIM’S ADVENT AT SACRAMENTO CITY. 
99 
arrived about the same time; Jim a little ahead; as between bis 
poncho and old Gray’s latter extremity it was about an even 
race, and they both settled down quietly, as if glad the race had 
ended. As Jim drew up to the door, he dismounted, and throw¬ 
ing on the counter a large handkerchief filled with gold and 
silver, said, “Well, by G—d, captain, I’ve made a raise;” he 
then untied his handkerchief; there were twenty or thirty dol¬ 
lars in silver, the balance in gold coin; the former he insisted 
upon my accepting, assuring me that it was of not the least 
value to him. He had been up the river twenty miles, had 
fallen in with a Mormon who had some money, and who pro¬ 
posed that Jim should deal “monte” and share the profits; in a 
few-nights they had won $13,000; the half of this was more 
money than he cared to have by him at any one time, and was 
on his way to Sacramento City to spend it. He felt in high 
spirits, and as there were two gamblers along in the evening, 
who wished to open a “monte bank,” he wished me to allow 
them to do so, which I did; they had a capital of a few hundred 
dollars, and Jim was to try his luck at betting, which, by-the- 
way, he understood as well as the other branch of the game. He 
watched the run of the cards for some time, then wished to cut 
them; soon he made a small bet—it won; he made a larger bet, 
and won it also; after making a few successful bets, he “tapped 
the bank" and won it; at about midnight he mounted Old Gray 
for Sacramento City, with as much money as he could conve¬ 
niently carry. 
The next morning a man came to the store, who saw Jim 
sleeping under a tree, his money under his head, his horse tied 
with a lasso, having traveled about five miles on his way to 
town. On his arrival, he looked upon Sacramento City as his 
guest, and emptied his handkerchief in drinking its health. He 
had all the inhabitants drunk who were disposed that way, and 
many of them much against their will. He was quite successful 
in getting rid of his money, and one week after his advent, he 
had invested his last dollar. He had engaged to pilot the mail 
through to Santa Fe, for the government, and the time arrived 
while he was entertaining the city. Of course, he could not leave 
just then, and when the officer in charge ordered him to start, 
he declared in the strongest language, that he considered himself 
