The
Governor, his daughters, and all those that could get room in the boats,
accompanied me as far as the northern part of the bay, and it was with a
swelling heart that I bade my farewell to them all.
CHAPTER VII.
Nothing could have been more fortunate than our proceeding by sea. On
the fourth day we were lying to, at a quarter of a mile from the shore,
exactly under the parallel of 39 deg. north latitude, and at the southern
point of a mountain called the Crooked Back-bone. The Indians first
landed in a small canoe we had provided ourselves with, to see if the
coast was clear; and in the evening the schooner was far on her way
back, while we were digging a cachette to conceal the baggage, which we
could not carry. Even my saddle was wrapped up in a piece of canvas, and
deposited in a deep bed of shale. Among other things presented to me in
Monterey, were two large boxes covered with tin, and containing English
fire-works, which, in the course of events, performed prodigies, and
saved many scalps when all hope of succour had been entirely given up.
The Montereyans are amazingly fond of these fire-works, and every vessel
employed in the California trade for hides has always a large supply
of them.
When all our effects were concealed, we proceeded first in an easterly,
and next in a north-westerly direction, in the hope of coming across
some of the horses belonging to the tribe.
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