Part 8 (1/2)

”A safe conclusion,” said the captain, laughing; ”but that is just the point. Gold _has_ turned up in all directions near the valley, and why should we not find it there? Besides, there is a pretty fair bit of land under cultivation, and vegetables fetch fabulous prices at the diggin's; in addition to which there are a good many cattle on the ground, and provisions of all kinds are as good as gold just now--so, you see, I think that even if we don't find more of the dust on it, there is some chance that you may raise the wind by the property if you act wisely.”

”Well, we shall see,” said Will; ”at all events I intend to make the most of my opportunities--and, talking of that, Captain Dall, as I see that Mr Cupples is lagging behind, a word in your ear--I'll tell you a secret.”

Hereupon our hero made the captain his confidant; told him of the object of his journey, and begged his advice and a.s.sistance, both of which the worthy man agreed to give him, to any extent, at any time, and under all circ.u.mstances--proving the sincerity of his a.s.surances on the spot by at once offering several pieces of advice. One of these was, that Will should hasten on the consummation of his wishes without delay. This, as may be believed, was so consonant with Will's own opinion that he accepted it at once, and acted upon it then and there, as far as was possible, by plying whip and spur so vigorously that his steed skimmed over the plain more like a swallow than a quadruped.

Progressing thus they were not long in reaching the city of Sacramento, which was four or five days' journey from Grizzly Bear Gulch. Here they embarked in a small schooner, and descended the n.o.ble Sacramento River, into which all the other rivers in California flow. Thence they coasted along the bay of San Francisco, which is a land-locked sea of more than forty miles in length, and, finally, anch.o.r.ed off the town of the same name. And a wonderful town it was! The news of the discovery of gold had drawn so many thousands of s.h.i.+ps and men to the port, that the hamlet of former days had become a city of tents and iron and wooden edifices of every kind. Gold can indeed work wonders--and never was its power more wonderfully displayed than in the rapid growth of San Francisco.

But our hero took small note of such matters. He was bent on a mission which engrossed his whole soul and all his faculties, and the fear that the Westwoods had found a homeward-bound s.h.i.+p, and perhaps had already set sail, induced him to go about everything he did in feverish haste.

During the few weeks that had pa.s.sed since he last saw it, the town had so changed its features that Will could scarce find his way, but at last he managed to discover the office of the agent who had advised him to go and see his property. Mr Zulino, as he was named, received his visitor with his wonted crustiness mingled with surprise, which was somewhat increased when he found that Will could not give a very comprehensible reason for his sudden return to the city. He could give no information as to the Westwoods, knew nothing about them, but advised that Will should make inquiry at the princ.i.p.al hotels in the town and at the s.h.i.+pping office, adding that he believed one of the s.h.i.+ps which had long been lying in the port, unable to sail for want of hands, had at last succeeded in getting up a crew, and was to sail in a day or two for England, but he did not know her name or anything about her.

”It is plain we can make nothing out of Mr Zulino,” said Will, with a look of chagrin, on quitting the office. ”Come, let us go hunt up the hotels.”

”Agreed,” cried Captain Dall. Mr Cupples groaned his readiness to follow, so they set off.

All that day the three wandered about the city into every hotel and s.h.i.+pping office, and every public place they could find, until they were thoroughly exhausted, but without success.

”Now, doctor,” said the captain, wiping his heated brow, ”if we are to gain our ends, it is plain that we must feed. I feel like a s.h.i.+p's hold without a cargo. See, here is a comfortable-looking inn; let us go and stow away something solid, have a pipe, and then turn in, so as to go at it fresh to-morrow morning early.”

”Very well,” said Will, languidly; ”but I cannot rest, so do you go and order something while I try to cool myself by taking a stroll up this hill; I'll be back before supper is ready.”

”I will go with you,” said Mr Cupples, gloomily.

Poor Will would have gladly gone alone, but as he had no good reason for declining the companions.h.i.+p of his tall and solemn friend, he merely said ”Very good,” and walked away. Pa.s.sing over the hill they came to a neat little cottage with a small garden in front, in which were a variety of flowers that evidently were well tended. The windows and doors of the cottage were invitingly open. As they pa.s.sed the garden-gate a voice suddenly exclaimed, ”Walk in.”

They stopped abruptly, looked at the open door, and then at each other in surprise.

”Walk in,” repeated the voice, louder than before.

”Well, really, I don't see why we should refuse so pressing an invitation,” said Will with a smile.

”You may go in; I'll wait for you,” said Mr Cupples.

In another minute our hero was in the lobby of the cottage, and then he discovered,--on the words ”walk in” being reiterated very gruffly,--that it was a grey parrot which had been thus taught to use the language of hospitality! Will laughed, and was about to turn on his heel when he observed a female reclining on a couch in one of the rooms. She looked up quickly on hearing his step and laugh, and Will, hesitating for a moment, advanced with the intention of explaining and apologising.

”Forgive my apparent intrusion, madam,” he said, ”but your parrot deceived--what!--am I--Flora--Miss Westwood!” he exclaimed in amazement, leaping forward and seizing her hand.

”Mr Osten!” said Flora, with a look of unfeigned surprise, ”can it be-- I--I--did not know--really--”

Now, reader, it would be ungenerous were we to give you a detailed account of all the absurd things that were uttered at the commencement of the conversation. Suffice it to say that Will and Flora stammered and blushed, and grew hot and cold, and tried to look cool and failed, signally, and then, feeling how very awkward their position was, made a desperate effort to be commonplace, and so began to talk with intense solicitude about ”the weather!” Will soon perceived, however, that in the circ.u.mstances this was utterly ridiculous, so he made another effort and asked about Flora's father and mother, and then, happy thought, he suddenly remembered Buckaw.a.n.ga, and began to descant upon him, after which he naturally slid into s.h.i.+ps and voyaging, and so came abruptly to the question:--

”By the way, Miss Westwood, is it true that you are trying to secure a pa.s.sage to England just now?”

”We have succeeded in securing one,” said Flora, with a deep blush and a peculiar look. ”We sail _to-morrow_.”

”To-morrow!” cried Will, in consternation.

There was for a moment a great swelling of _something_ in our hero's breast; then a sudden thought occurred, ”Never venture never--;” next instant he seized Flora's hand. ”Oh, Miss West--Flora, _dearest_ Flora--forgive--nay, do not turn away, I entreat, I beseech--”

”Old rascal!” exclaimed a stern voice at his back at that moment.