l kegs and barrels supported two long pine
planks which constituted at different periods of the day the counter,
the gaming-table, and the _table d'hote_. A large cooking stove stood
in the centre of the house, but there were no chairs; guests were
expected to sit on boxes and empty casks, or stand. Beds there were
none. When the hour for rest arrived, each guest chose the portion of
the earthen floor that suited him best, and, spreading out his blankets,
with his saddle for a pillow, lay down to dream of golden nuggets, or,
perchance, of home, while innumerable rats--the bane of California--
gambolled round and over him.

The ranchero, as the owner of such an establishment is named, was said
to be an escaped felon. Certainly he might have been, as far as his
looks went. He was surly and morose, but men minded this little, so
long as he supplied their wants. There were five or six travellers in
the ranche when our party arrived, all of whom were awaiting the
preparation of supper.

"Here we are," cried the captain, as they trotted into the yard, "ready
for supper, I trow; and, if my nose don't deceive me, supper's about
ready for us."

"I hope they've got enough for us all," said Ned, glancing at the party
inside, as he leaped from the saddle, and threw the bridle to his
vaquero. "Halloo, Boniface! have ye room for a large party in there?"

"Come in an' see," growled Dawson, whose duties at the cooking stove
rendered him indifferent as to other matters.

"Ah, thin, ye've got a swate voice," said Larry O'Neil, sarcastically,
as he led his mule towards a post, to which Bill Jones was already
fastening his steed. "I say, Bill," he added, pointing to a little tin
bowl which stood on an inverted cask outside the door of the ranche,
"wot can that be for?"

"Dunno," answered Bill; "s'pose it's to wash in."

At that moment a long, cadaverous miner came out of the hut, and
rendered further speculation unnecessary, by turning up his shirt
sleeves to the elbow, and commencing his ablutions in the little tin
bowl, which was just large enough to admit both his hands at once.

"Faix, yer mouth and nose ought to be grateful," said Larry, in an
undertone, as he and Jones stood with their arms crossed, admiring the
proceedings of the man.

This remark had reference to the fact that the washer applied the water
to the favoured regions around his nose and mouth, but carefully avoided
trespassing on any part of the terri