eternal peace.

We were now a gallant band, two hundred and fifty strong; and in order
to find game sufficient for the subsistence of so many individuals, we
were obliged to take a long range to the south, so as to fall upon the
prairies bordering the Buona Ventura. Chance, however, led us into a
struggle, in which I became afterwards deeply involved. Scarcely had we
reached the river, when we met with a company of fifteen individuals,
composed of some of my old Monterey friends. They were on their way to
the settlement, to ask my help against the governor of Senora; and the
Indians being all unanimous in their desire to chastise him, and to
acquire the good-will of the wealthy people of Monterey, I yielded to
circumstances, and altered our course to the south. My old servant had
come with the deputation, and from him I learnt the whole of the
transaction.

It appears that the governor of Senora declared, that he would whip like
dogs, and hang the best part of the population of Monterey, principally
the Anglo-Saxon settlers, the property of whom he intended to confiscate
for his own private use. If he could but have kept his own counsel, he
would of a certainty have succeeded, but the Montereyans were aware of
his intentions, even before he had reached the borders of California.

Deputations were sent to the neighbouring towns, and immediately a small
body of determined men started to occupy the passes through which the
governor had to proceed. There they learnt with dismay, that the force
they would have to contend with was at least ten times more numerous
than their own; they were too brave, however, to retire without a blow
in defence of their independence, and remembering the intimacy
contracted with me, together with the natural antipathy of the Indians
against the Watchinangoes, or Mexicans, they determined to ask our help,
offering in return a portion of the wealth they could command in cattle,
arms, ammunition, and other articles of great value among savages.

The governor's army amounted to five hundred men two hundred of them
soldiers in uniform, and the remainder half-bred stragglers, fond of
pillage, but too cowardly to fight for it. It was agreed that I and my
men, being all on horseback, should occupy the prairie, where we would
conceal ourselves in an ambush. The Montereyans and their friends were
to give way at the approach of the governor, as if afraid of disputing
the ground; and then, when