to mark the progress of the work.

Meanwhile, the happy pair visited every point of interest in and about
San Francisco. They frequented the theatres, drove to the Park and the
Cliff House, and both declared that San Francisco was the most delightful
spot on earth.

They were all the world to each other. In the happiness that filled their
hearts their eyes were softened, so that everything they looked at took
on roseate hues--the world had become a throne to them, over which had
been drawn a cover of cloth of gold.

Once they made a journey to Virginia City, and descended the Gould and
Curry shaft, and Sedgwick showed his bride where he and Jack first
discussed the probability of trying to make a little raise in stocks.
They went and looked at the lodging-house on the Divide where Jack and
Sedgwick roomed so long; visited the mills, saw crude bullion cast into
bars, and watched the procession of a miner's funeral, and in their
rambles Sedgwick stopped many a miner whom he had known, and presented
his bride.

Returning, they got off at Sacramento and waited over one day. There
Sedgwick ordered four seven-ton wagons, with four trail wagons of five
tons each, and four more of three tons each, and twelve sets of team
harness, a dozen of yokes and no end of chains; also a strong, covered
spring wagon with harness to match.

After forty days, Sedgwick was informed that everything would be ready in
ten days. His idea had been to charter a brig or bark, and send the
machinery to Port Natal by a sailing craft; but in crossing the bay in
visits to Oakland, Saucelito and San Rafael, he had noticed anchored, out
in the stream, a small iron bark-rigged steamer which carried the British
flag, and had read thereon the name "Pallas." One day he asked some men
on the wharf what ship it was and why it lay so long in the harbor.

The answer was that it was an English tramp steamer that some months
previously came in loaded with wines and brandies from Bordeaux.

The men also gave the information that, though a tramp steamer, it was
thought to be a very strong craft, fully bulk-headed, with first-class
machinery, and was commanded by the owner, a Scotchman named McGregor,
who, when not on his ship, stopped at the Occidental Hotel.

Sedgwick had already made his acquaintance at the hotel, so when he met
him that evening he asked him how long he expected to remain in the city.
McGregor replied that he was waiting to secure a cargo fo