He Spent His Own Money And Nearly All
The Stores Among The Half-Bloods Upon The Beach, And Being
Turned
Away, went up to the Presidio, where he lived the life
of a desperate "loafer," until some rascally deed sent
Him off
"between two days," with men on horseback, dogs, and Indians in
full cry after him, among the hills. One night, he burst into our
room at the hide-house, breathless, pale as a ghost, covered with
mud, and torn by thorns and briers, nearly naked, and begged for
a crust of bread, saying he had neither eaten nor slept for three
days. Here was the great Mr. Russell, who a month before was "Don
Tomàs," "Capitán de la playa," "Maéstro de la casa," etc., etc.,
begging food and shelter of Kanakas and sailors. He staid with
us till he gave himself up, and was dragged off to the calabozo.
Another, and a more amusing specimen, was one whom we saw at San
Francisco. He had been a lad on board the ship California, in one
of her first voyages, and ran away and commenced Ranchéro, gambling,
stealing horses, etc. He worked along up to San Francisco, and was
living on a rancho near there, while we were in port. One morning,
when we went ashore in the boat, we found him at the landing-place,
dressed in California style, - a wide hat, faded velveteen trowsers,
and a blanket cloak thrown over his shoulders - and wishing to go off
in the boat, saying he was going to paseár with our captain a little.
We had many doubts of the reception he would meet with; but he
seemed to think himself company for any one. We took him aboard,
landed him at the gangway, and went about our work, keeping an eye
upon the quarter-deck, where the captain was walking. The lad
went up to him with the most complete assurance, and raising his
hat, wished him a good afternoon. Captain T - - - turned round,
looked at him from head to foot, and saying coolly, "Hallo! who
the h - - are you?" kept on his walk. This was a rebuff not to
be mistaken, and the joke passed about among the crew by winks
and signs, at different parts of the ship. Finding himself
disappointed at headquarters, he edged along forward to the mate,
who was overseeing some work on the forecastle, and tried to begin
a yarn; but it would not do. The mate had seen the reception he
had met with aft, and would have no cast-off company. The second
mate was aloft, and the third mate and myself were painting the
quarter-boat, which hung by the davits, so he betook himself to
us; but we looked at one another, and the officer was too busy
to say a word. From us, he went to one and another of the crew,
but the joke had got before him, and he found everybody busy and
silent.
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