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that one might easily be mistaken。 Anyhow； flight provoked pursuit； I jumped on to my horse； and raced along the plain like mad。 She saw me coming； and flogged the more； but being the better mounted of the two； by degrees I overhauled her。 As I ranged alongside； neither slackened speed； and reaching out to catch her bridle； my knee hooked under the hollow of hers； twisted her clean off her pad； and in a moment she lay senseless on the ground。 I flung myself from my horse； and laid her head upon my lap。 Good God！ had I broken her neck！ She did not stir； her eyes were closed； but she breathed； and her heart beat quickly。 I was wild with terror and remorse。 I looked back for aid； but the others had not started； we were still a mile or more from Honolulu。 I knew not what to do。 I kissed her forehead； I called her by her name。 But she lay like a child asleep。 Presently her dazed eyes opened and stared with wonderment； and then she smiled。 The tears； I think； were on my cheeks； and seeing them； she put her arms around my neck and … forgave me。
She had fallen on her head and had been stunned。 I caught the horses while she sat still； and we walked them slowly home。 When we got within sight of her hut on the outskirts of the town； she would not let me go further。 There was sadness in her look when we parted。 I made her understand （I had picked up two or three words） that I would return to see her。 She at once shook her head with an expression of something akin to fear。 I too felt sorrowful； and worse than sorrowful； jealous。
When the night fell I sought her hut。 It was one of the better kind； built like others mainly with matting； no doors or windows； but with an extensive verandah which protected the inner part from rain and sun。 Now and again I caught glimpses of Arakeeta's fairy form flitting in； or obscuring； the lamplight。 I could see two other women and two men。 Who and what were they？ Was one of those dark forms an Othello； ready to smother his Desdemona？ Or were either of them a Valentine between my Marguerite and me？ Though there was no moon； I dared not venture within the lamp's rays； for her sake； for my own； I was reckless now … I would have thanked either of them to brain me with his hoe。 But Arakeeta came not。
In the day…time I roamed about the district； about the TARO fields； in case she might be working there。 Every evening before sundown； many of the women and some of the well…to…do men； and a few whites； used to ride on the plain that stretches along the shore between the fringe of palm groves and the mountain spurs。 I had seen Arakeeta amongst them before the LOOHOU feast。 She had given this up now； and why？ Night after night I hovered about the hut。 When she was in the verandah I whispered her name。 She started and peered into the dark； hesitated； then fled。 Again the same thing happened。 She had heard me； she knew that I was there； but she came not； no； wiser than I； she came not。 And though I sighed：
What is worth The rest of Heaven； the rest of earth？
the shrewd little wench doubtless told herself： 'A quiet life； without the fear of the broomstick。'
Fred was impatient to be off； I had already trespassed too long on the kind hospitality of General Miller； neither of us had heard from England for more than a year； and the opportunities of trading vessels to California seldom offered。 A rare chance came … a fast…sailing brig； the 'Corsair；' was to leave in a few days for San Francisco。 The captain was an Englishman； and had the repute of being a boon companion and a good caterer。 We … I； passively … settled to go。 Samson decided to remain。 He wanted to visit Owyhee。 He came on board with us； however； and； with a parting bumper of champagne； we said 'Good…bye。' That was the last I ever saw of him。 The hardships had broken him down。 He died not long after。
The light breeze carried us slowly away … for the first time for many long months with our faces to the east。 But it was not 'merry' England that filled my juvenile fancies。 I leaned upon the taffrail and watched this lovely land of the 'flowery food' fade slowly from my sight。 I had eaten of the Lotus； and knew no wish but to linger on； to roam no more； to return no more； to any home that was not Arakeeta's。
This sort of feeling is not very uncommon in early life。 And 'out of sight； out of mind；' is also a known experience。 Long before we reached San Fr'isco I was again eager for adventure。
How magnificent is the bay！ One cannot see across it。 How impatient we were to land！ Everything new。 Bearded dirty heterogeneous crowds busy in all directions； … some running up wooden and zinc houses； some paving the streets with planks； some housing over ships beached for temporary dwellings。 The sandy hills behind the infant town are being levelled and the foreshore filled up。 A 'water surface' of forty feet square is worth 5；000 dollars。 So that here and there the shop…fronts are ships' broadsides。 Already there is a theatre。 But the chief feature is the gambling saloons； open night and day。 These large rooms are always filled with from 300 to 400 people of every description … from 'judges' and 'colonels' （every man is one or the other； who is nothing else） to Parisian cocottes； and escaped convicts of all nationalities。 At one end of the saloon is a bar； at the other a band。 Dozens of tables are ranged around。 Monte； faro； rouge…et…noir； are the games。 A large proportion of the players are diggers in shirt…sleeves and butcher…boots； belts round their waists for bowie knife and 'five shooters；' which have to be surrendered on admittance。 They come with their bags of nuggets or 'dust；' which is duly weighed； stamped； and sealed by officials for the purpose。
1 have still several specimens of the precious metal which I captured； varying in size from a grain of wheat to a mustard seed。
The tables win enormously； and so do the ladies of pleasure； but the winnings of these go back again to the tables。 Four times； while we were here； differences of opinion arose concerning points of 'honour；' and were summarily decided by revolvers。 Two of the four were subsequently referred to Judge 'Lynch。'
Wishing to see the 'diggings；' Fred and I went to Sacramento … about 150 miles up the river of that name。 This was but a pocket edition of San Francisco； or scarcely that。 We therefore moved to Marysville； which； from its vicinity to the various branches of the Sacramento river； was the chief depot for the miners of the 'wet diggin's' in Northern California。 Here we were received by a Mr。 Massett … a curious specimen of the waifs and strays that turn up all over the world in odd places； and whom one would be sure to find in the moon if ever one went there。 He owned a little one…roomed cabin； over the door of which was painted 'Offices of the Marysville Herald。' He was his own contributor and 'correspondent；' editor and printer； （the press was in a corner of the room）。 Amongst other avocations he was a concert…giver； a comic reader； a tragic actor； and an auctioneer。 He