nor provoked a horse-trade, it was immediately
surmised that he was looking for some one, and each man searchingly
questioned his trembling memory whether he had ever done Buffle an
injury.

All preserved a respectful silence as Buffle walked from claim to claim,
carefully scrutinizing many, and all breathed freer as they saw him and
his horse disappear over the hill on the Sonora trail.

At Sonora he considered it wise to stay over Sunday--not to enjoy
religious privileges, but because on Sunday sinners from all parts of
the country round flocked into Sonora, to commune with the spirits,
infernal rather than celestial, gathered there.

He made the tour of all the saloons, dashed eagerly at two or three men,
with plain gold rings on left fore-fingers, disgustedly found them the
wrong men beyond doubt, cursed them, and invited them to drink. Then he
closely catechised all the barkeepers, who were the only reliable
directories in that country; they were anxious to oblige him, but none
could remember such a man. So Buffle took his horse, and sought his man
elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Berryn remained in camp, where she was cared for in a
manner which called out her astonishment equally with her gratitude.
Buffle was hardly well out of the Gulch when Mrs. Berryn heard a knock
at the door; she opened it, and a man handed her a frying-pan, with the
remark, "Buffle is cracked," and hastily disappeared.

In the morning she was awakened by a crash outside the door, and, on
looking out, discovered a quantity of firewood ready cut; each morning
thereafter found in the same place a fresh supply, which was usually
decorated with offerings of different degrees of appropriateness--pieces
of fresh meat, strings of dried ditto, blankets enough for a large
hotel, little packages of gold dust, case knives and forks, cans of salt
butter, and all sorts of provisions, in quantity.

Each man in camp fondly believed his own particular revolver was better
than any other, and, as a natural consequence, the camp became almost
peaceful, by reason of the number of pistols that were left in front of
Mrs. Berryn's door. But she carefully left them alone, and when this was
discovered the boys sorrowfully removed them.

Then old Griff, living up the Gulch, with a horrible bulldog for
companion, brought his darling animal down late one dark night, and tied
him near the lady's residence, where he discoursed sweet sounds for two
hours, until, to M