June, late – Sam renewed his friendship with Steve Gillis, now married and living on Bush Street. He also spent time with Bret Harte, editor of the newly founded Overland Monthly, a literary magazine. Harte was on the verge of fame for his own stories, “The Luck of Roaring Camp” appearing that year, and “Outcasts of Poker Flats” the next. Harte helped Sam pare his long manuscript, and three years later Sam was to credit Harte with greatly improving him as a writer [MT Encyclopedia, Dickinson 352; Lennon 395-6]. Sam reserved a stateroom on the Pacific Mail steamship Sacramento, slated to leave on June 30 for Panama. At the urging of friends, Sam agreed to stay over and give one more lecture. Sam’s change of schedule was made no sooner than June 28 [MTL 2: 233n1].