Under such patronage I got through without any accident.
It was the last day of our ride by rail.

In the car which we helped to occupy there was not a single female, and I was happy.

A sense of repose--of safety--stole over me, which even the knowledge that on the morrow we were to take the war-path could not overcome.
"Oh," sighed I, "no women! This _is_ bliss!" In about five minutes after I had made this remark the train drew up at one of those little stations that mark off the road, and the scout got off a minute to see a man.

Fatal minute! In that brief sixty seconds of time a female made her appearance in the car door, looked all along the line, and, either because the seat beside me was the only vacant one, or because she liked my looks, she came, and, without so much as "by your leave," plumped down by me.
"This seat is engaged," I mildly remonstrated, growing as usual very red.
She looked around at me, saw me blush, and began to titter.
"No, young man," said she, "I ain't engaged, but I told ma I bet I would be before I got to Californy." By this time my protector had returned; but, seeing a woman, and a young woman at that, in his seat, he coolly ignored my imploring looks and passed out into the next car.
"I'm going on the platform to smoke," he whispered.
"Be _you_ engaged ?" continued my new companion.
"No, miss," I stammered.
"Ain't that lucky ?" she giggled.

"Who knows but what we may make up our minds to hitch horses afore we get to Californy!" and she eyed me all over without a bit of bashfulness, and seemed to admire me.