"The bulgine burst, the horse run off; I thought I'd surely die!
I shut my eyes to hold my breath; Susannah, don't you cry!
Oh, Susannah, don't you cry for me!
I'm going to California with my wash-bowl on my knee!"
CHAPTER XL.
Upon returning to the city, M. T. Pate met with a misfortune, which gave him sad affliction when he afterwards came to reflect upon his folly. He had throughout the whole course of his life been a very temperate man, and on Sundays was exceedingly pious. But he and Hercules were now seduced by a party of dissolute fellows, who kept them in a state of inebriation for several days. In fact, Hercules got profoundly intoxicated, and continued in that condition until he was carried on board the ship when she was about to sail; while Pate became boisterous and broke a number of goblets and decanters, and even challenged the proprietor of the hotel to a pugilistic combat. The latter earnestly implored the interposition of Toney Belton, who, upon going to Pate's room, found him standing in the midst of a number of boon-companions, with a bottle in his grasp, making as much noise as was possible by bellowing forth the following bacchanalian melody:
The ruby wine sparkles so bright in the bowl,
To pleasure it seems to invite;
And, by heavens, I vow he's a pitiful soul