innumerable butterflies, and a hundred other

Plumed insects, winged and free,
Like golden boats on a sunny sea,

were the characters, grouped in a frame of living green, curtained with
the blue folds of our inimitable sky.

We had intended to start very early in the morning, but, as usual on
such excursions, did not get off until about ten o'clock. Somebody's
horse came up missing, or somebody's saddle needed repairing, or
somebody's shirt did not come home in season from the washer-Chinaman
(for if we _do_ wear flannel shirts, we choose to have them clean when
we ride out with the ladies), or something else equally important
detained us. It was about nine o'clock in the evening when we reached
the valley and rode up to Greenwood's Rancho, which, by the way, was
the headquarters of the Democratic party. It was crowded to
overflowing, as our ears told us long before we came in sight of it,
and we found it utterly impossible to obtain lodgings there. This
building has no windows, but a strip of crimson calico, placed half-way
from the roof and running all round the house, lets in the _red_ light
and supplies their place. However, we did not stop long to enjoy the
pictorial effect of the scarlet windows,--which really look very
prettily in the night,--but rode straight to the American Rancho, a
quarter of a mile beyond. This was the headquarters of the Whigs, to
which party our entire company, excepting myself, belonged. Indeed, the
gentlemen had only consented to call at the other house through
compassion for the ladies, who were suffering from extreme fatigue, and
they were rejoiced at the prospect of getting among birds of the same
feather. There, however, we were informed that it was equally
impossible to procure accommodations. In this dilemma we could do
nothing but accept Mrs. ----'s kind invitation and accompany her to the
rancho of her friend, although she herself had intended, as it was so
late, to stop at one of the hotels for the night. We were so lucky as
to procure a guide at this place, and with this desirable addition to
the party, we started on.

I had been very sick for the last two hours, and had only kept up with
the thought that we should soon arrive at our journey's end; but when I
found that we were compelled to ride three miles farther, my heart sank
within me. I gave up all attempts to guide my horse, which one of the
party led, leaned my head on the horn of my saddle, and resigned my