A YELLOW 110a. 57

Sacramento to relieve the unfortunate girl. We were all quite indignant with Bones - but, ‘oddly enough, I think it was greatly tempered with our new pride in him. While he was with us alone, his peculiarities had been scarcely appreciated, but the re- current phrase, “that yellow dog that they keep at the Rattlers,” gave us a mysterious importance along the country side, as if we had secured a “mascot ” in some zoological curiosity.

This was further indicated by a singular occurrence. A new church had been built at the cross roads, and an eminent divine had come from San Francisco to preach the opening sermon. After a careful examina- tion of the camp’s wardrobe, and some feli- oitous exchange of apparel, a few of us were deputed to represent “Rattlers” at the Sun- day service. In our white ducks, straw hats, and flannel blouses, we were suffi- ciently picturesque and distinctive as “hon- est miners” to be shown off in one of the front pews. i

Seated near the prettiest girls, who offered us their hymn-books—in the cleanly odor of fresh pine shavings, and ironed muslin, and blown over by the spices of our own