more. So I started
for New York in rather a devil-may-care spirit, without the slightest
chance of doing the business in comfort. And my misfortunes began at
once in that city.

To save time and money I went in the first quick vessel that
crossed--the _Lucania_; and I went second-class. It was an experience to
run twenty-two knots an hour; but it has made me greedy since. I want to
do any future journeys in a torpedo-boat. As to the second-class crowd,
they were, as they always are on board Western ocean boats, a set of
hogs. The difference between first and second-class passengers is one of
knowing when and where to spit, to put no fine point on it. I was glad
when we reached New York on that account.

I meant to stay there three days, but my business took me a fortnight,
and money flowed like water. It soaked up dollars like a new gold mine,
and I saw what I meant for the Eastern journey sink like water in sand.
But I had to get to San Francisco. I took that journey in sections. All
my trouble in New York was to get across the continent. I let the
Pacific take care of itself, being sure I could conquer that difficulty
when the time came. I recommend this frame of mind to all travellers. I
acquired the habit myself in the United States when I jumped trains
instead of paying my fare. It is most useful to think of no more than
the matter in hand, for then we can use one's whole faculties at one
time. Too much forethought is fatal to progress, and if I had really
considered difficulties I could have stayed in England and written a
story instead, a most loathsome _pis aller_.

I do not mean to say that I was without money. All I do mean is that I
had less than half that I should have had, unless I meant to cross the
continent as a tramp in a "side-door Pullman," as the tramping
fraternity call a box car, and the Pacific in the steerage. As a matter
of fact, I proposed to do neither. I wanted a free pass over one of the
American railroads, and if there had been time I should have got it. I
tackled the agents, and "struck" them for a pass. I assured them that I
was a person of illimitable influence, and that if I rode over their
system, and simply mentioned the fact casually on my return, all Europe
would follow me. I insinuated that their traffic returns would rise to
heights unheard of: that their rivals would smash and go into the hands
of receivers. It was indeed a beautiful, beautiful game, and reminded
one of poker,