Chapter 6

           “IlivedthreeweeksofinfinitetormentthereintheChauffeur’scamp. Andthen,oneday,tiringofme,orofwhattohimwasmybadeffectonVesta,hetoldmethattheyearbefore,wanderingthroughtheContraCostaHillstotheStraitsofCarquinez,acrosstheStraitshehadseenasmoke. Thismeantthattherewerestillotherhumanbeings,andthatforthreeweekshehadkeptthisinestimablypreciousinformationfromme. Idepartedatonce,withmydogsandhorses,andjourneyedacrosstheContraCostaHillstotheStraits. Isawnosmokeontheotherside,butatPortCostadiscoveredasmallsteelbargeonwhichIwasabletoembarkmyanimals. OldcanvaswhichIfoundservedmeforasail,andasoutherlybreezefannedmeacrosstheStraitsanduptotheruinsofVallejo. Here,ontheoutskirtsofthecity,Ifoundevidencesofarecentlyoccupiedcamp. 

           “Manyclam-shellsshowedmewhythesehumanshadcometotheshoresoftheBay. ThiswastheSantaRosaTribe,andIfolloweditstrackalongtheoldrailroadrightofwayacrossthesaltmarshestoSonomaValley. Here,attheoldbrickyardatGlenEllen,Icameuponthecamp. Therewereeighteensoulsalltold. Twowereoldmen,oneofwhomwasJones,abanker. TheotherwasHarrison,aretiredpawnbroker,whohadtakenforwifethematronoftheStateHospitalfortheInsaneatNapa. OfallthepersonsofthecityofNapa,andofalltheothertownsandvillagesinthatrichandpopulousvalley,shehadbeentheonly-survivor.