in the looks of each. Gathering their full strength, the terrific rush was made: the bull missed, when the bear, with one enormous bound, dashed his teeth into his back to break the spine; the bull fell, but whirled his huge horn deep into the side of his antagonist. There they lay, grappled and gored, in their convulsive struggles and death-throes. We spurred up, and with our rifles and pistols closed the tragedy; and it was time this last scene was too full of blind rage and madness even for the wild sports of a California bear-hunt. TUESDAY, NOV. 2. Byron says, a hog in a high wind is a poetical object. Had he lived here, he might have put a mischievous boy on the top of that grotesque animal, and it would have helped out the poetical image immensely. The boys here begin their equestrianism on the back of a hog or bullock, and end it on the saddle, to which they seem to grow, like a muscle to a rock. WEDNESDAY, Nov. 3. A Russian, who carries on a farm at Santa Cruz, called at my office a few days since, and presented me with a cabbage-head. I was sure from this garden gift, the old Cossack had something in tow yet out of sight; but it soon came in the shape of a request that I would summon a debtor of his, and order payment. The creditor of the Russian proved to be a young Frenchman, who had run away with the old man's daughter, married her, and then quartered himself and wife on her father. I told the Frenchman he must pay board, or run away again with his wife; but if he came back he must satisfy arrears: concluded to run. This running before the honeymoon is pleasant enough; but running after that sweet orb has waned, is rather a dismal business. so he Col. Burton, with his command, is in Lower California, where he has maintained the flag against desperate odds. His officers and men have acquitted themselves with honor. The powder and ball of the enemy were smuggled in by an American—a wretch who ought to be shot himself. MONDAY, NOV. 8. After being six months without rain, the first shower of the season fell this evening. Its approach had been announced for several days by a dim atmosphere, which was filled with a soft, thick vapor, that swung about, like a limitless cloud. The rain itself was warm, and sunk into the earth, like flattery into the heart of a fool. 220 CHAPTER XVI. A CALIFORNIAN JEALOUS OF HIS WIFE.-HOSPITALITY OF THE NATIVES.- VORCE. CAPTURE OF MAZATLAN,—LARCENY OF CANTON SHAWLS.- Saturday, Nov. 20. I was tumbled out of my dreams last night by a succession of rapid and heavy knocks at my office door. Unbarring it, I found Giuseppe, a townsman, who stated, under an excitement that almost choked his voice, that he had just returned from the Salinas; that on entering his house he had discovered, through the window in the door leading to his bedroom, by the clear light of the moon, which shone into the apartment, a man reposing on his pillow by the side of his faithless spouse, and desired me to come and arrest him. I had understood that the sposa had not the reputation of the "icicle that hung on Dian's temple," and had no great confidence in Giuseppe's domestic virtues. either; but that was no valid reason why he should be so unceremoniously ousted of his domestic claims. I therefore ordered the constable, whom this midnight noise had now awoke, to go with him and bring the culprit before me. Off they started, well armed with batons and re volvers. On reaching the premises the house was carefully reconnoitred, and every egress from the building securely bolted. They were now inside, and had conducted their operations so silently they were unsuspected. The door leading to the bedroom was at the other end of the hall; they crept over the floor with steps so low and soft, each heard his heart beat, and the clock seemed to strike instead of ticking its seconds. Giuseppe's thoughts ran "I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; And, on the proof, there is no more but this." Through the panes of glass which relieved the panels of the door, they saw in the faint moonlight, which fell through the opposite window, the dark locks of the guilty intruder flowing over the husband's pillow. “I have a mind," whispered Giuseppe, "to rush in and plunge my knife at once to his cursed heart. "No, no," returned my faithful constable, "we are here to execute the orders of the alcalde, and if you are going to take the law into your own hands I will leave you. Hush! hark! he stirs! No; it was the shadow of the tree that frecks the moonlight." All was still and waveless again. The door was on the jar, and drawing one good long relieving breath, in they rushed, and seized what? A muff! The husband could not believe his own eyes, and mussed the muff up, jerking it this way and that, as if to ascertain if there was not a man inside of it. “You return late, Giuseppe," murmured his wife, scarce yet awake. “Oh, yes, yes, my dear, late, late," stammered the husband. You have a friend with you," continued the unsuspecting sposa. "Yes, my darling; a friend from the Salinas, whom I have invited to take a night's lodging," replied Giuseppe. "Well, you will find a bed for him in the opposite room, and a candle and matches on the table," rejoined the sposa. So the twain went out, and having disturbed the bed assigned the friend sufficiently to give it the appearance of having been slept in, my constable slipped out and came home, denouncing all jealous husbands and ladies' muffs. This fluster cost me two hours' sleep, and Giuseppe a fee of three dollars to the constable. He would have paid forty times that sum to get free of the joke. Nothing so completely confounds a Californian as to find himself the dupe of his suspicions. It is more vexatious than the wrong which his mistaken anger sought to avenge. Mutual confidence is the basis of all domestic endearment, and the cause which is allowed to disturb it, should be as weighty as the happiness it wrecks. So reads my homily. TUESDAY, DEC. 7. There are no people that I have ever been among who enjoy life so thoroughly as the Californians. Their habits are simple; their wants few; nature rolls almost every thing spontaneously into their lap. Their cattle, horses, and sheep roam at large-not a blade of grass is cut, and none is re quired. The harvest waves wherever the plough and |