As the winter season approached, Colonel Mason returned to Monterey, and I remained for a time at Sutter's Fort.

In order to share somewhat in the riches of the land, we formed a partnership in a store at Coloma, in charge of Norman S.Bestor, who had been Warner's clerk.

We supplied the necessary money, fifteen hundred dollars (five hundred dollars each), and Bestor carried on the store at Coloma for his share.

Out of this investment, each of us realized a profit of about fifteen hundred dollars.

Warner also got a regular leave of absence, and contracted with Captain Sutter for surveying and locating the town of Sacramento.