"The steamer" exclaimed all, and, without waiting for hats or any thing, off we dashed.

I reached the wharf hatless, but the dona sent my cap after me by a servant.

The white puffs of smoke hung around the fort, mingled with the dense fog, which hid all the water of the bay, and well out to sea could be seen the black spars of some unknown vessel.
At the wharf I found a group of soldiers and a small row-boat, which belonged to a brig at anchor in the bay.

Hastily ordering a couple of willing soldiers to get in and take the oars, and Mr.
Larkin and Mr.Hartnell asking to go along, we jumped in and pushed off.

Steering our boat toward the spars, which loomed up above the fog clear and distinct, in about a mile we came to the black hull of the strange monster, the long-expected and most welcome steamer California.