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574 ance from the Southern people, situated as they were, was most abhorrent to me, and that, as I was young and in good health, I preferred to seek my own fortune and in my own way. "Have you any arms?" he inquired.

"Yes, two strong ones," I replied, holding them out. The general laughed, and said, "Yes, those will be of service to you if you are going to seek your fortune, but out among the mines you will need arms of another kind."

He then gave me a revolver, saying that I might have need for it, and also a buffalo robe and a pair of blankets, which he was certain I would find useful.

That night I slept but little, thinking of the general's advice, and of the unknown future before me. Towards morning I fell into something like a doze, but before I was fairly asleep I was called, and told that it was time to get ready for the stage.

I found General Harney up and waiting for me. We took breakfast together; and as I got up to go to the stage, he said, "Remember the advice of your best friend. I only wish that I was thirty-five years younger; you should not make this journey alone."

This was so flattering that I could not help permitting my wishes to run in the same channel. After I was seated in the back of the coach, snugly wrapped up in my blankets and buffalo robe, a basket of eatables was handed in to me, and just as we were about to start the general leaned in, and, kissing me on the forehead, said, "Farewell, my child; if we should never meet again, God will take care of you;" and then turning to the driver, he told him to take good care of me, as I was a particular friend of his.

The driver said, "All right, sir; I will look after her;" and, cracking his whip, off we went, with nearly half the continent yet before me to be travelled before my journey should be ended.

My travelling companions were a rather rough set. The men on the front seat who proved to be, what I took them for, mountaineers had some whiskey, of which they partook rather more freely than was good for them, and they were a little inclined to be boisterous. They did not make them-