disastrous; the Prince had been murdered by the Crows; the Shoshones had
gone on a war expedition to revenge the death of the Prince; and my
father himself, who had been daily declining, expected in a short time
to rejoin his friend in a better world. Poor Isabella! I would have
added, poor me! but the fatal news brought had so excited me, that I had
but few thoughts to give to pleasure and to love. My immediate return
was a sacred duty, and, besides, the Shoshones expected me to join with
them on my first war-path. The old Governor judged it advisable that I
should return home by sea, as the Arrapahoes Indians were at that moment
enemies of the Shoshones, and would endeavour to cut me off if I were to
ascend the Buona Ventura. Before my departure I received a visit from an
Irishman, a wild young fellow of the name of Roche, a native of Cork,
and full of fun and activity. He had deserted on the coast from one of
the American vessels, and in spite of the promised reward of forty
dollars, he was never discovered, and his vessel sailed without him.

General Morreno was at first angry, and would have sent the poor devil
to jail, but Roche was so odd and made so many artful representations of
the evils he had suffered on board on account of his being a Catholic,
that the clergy, and, in fact, all Monterey, interfered. Roche soon
became a valuable acquisition to the community; he was an indefatigable
dancer, and a good fiddler. Besides, he had already accustomed himself
to the Mexican manners and language, and in a horse or buffalo hunt none
were more successful. He would tell long stories to the old women about
the wonders of Erin, the miracles of St. Patrick, and about the stone at
Blarney. In fact, he was a favourite with every one, and would have
become rich and happy, could he have settled. Unfortunately for him, his
wild spirit of adventure did not allow him to enjoy the quiet of a
Montereyan life, and hearing that there was a perspective of getting his
head broken in the "Settlement of the Grandees," he asked permission to