ard
Frank's side of the story. I am convinced that if we heard that we
should get some new light upon it; and my proposal is that you and I
shall at once start for California and see Frank, and hear all about it.
It seems to me that he has been silent because he has some mistaken idea
that you believe in his guilt, and when you assure him that you have an
absolute faith in his innocence, he will go into the whole matter, and
in that case we shall probably find some clue which we can follow up and
get at the truth."

"The very thing, Harry," the Captain exclaimed impetuously, "we will
start by the first ship, you and I, and find this troublesome young
rascal, and have it out with him."

"And I shall go too, of course, uncle," Alice Hardy exclaimed; "I am not
going to be left behind by myself."

"Impossible, Alice! you don't know what the country is. You could not go
wandering about up in the mountains, looking for him through all sorts
of mining camps, with no decent place for a woman to sleep."

"No, uncle; but I could stay at San Francisco till you came back with
him; there must be some sort of people there you could leave me with. I
am sure you would not be so unkind as to leave me in England in a state
of anxiety all these months. You know I enjoy the sea, and you will want
somebody to look after you during the voyage, and to see that you don't
get into scrapes with that dreadful temper of yours. Besides, you must
have some one to scold; you could not get on without it, and you don't
scold Harry half so vigorously as you do me."

And so at last it was settled, and a week later Captain Bayley, his
grandson, and Alice Hardy, sailed for Panama.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XXI.

HAPPY MEETINGS.

FRANK was in splendid health, and his bones set rapidly. A fortnight
after the encounter with the brigands he rode down to the camp on the
Yuba with his arm in a sling. His attack single-handed upon the four
stage-robbers had rendered him quite a noted character, and he was
warmly greeted upon his arrival. As soon as he had got to the wooden
shanty dignified by the name of the "hotel," a deputation waited upon
him.

"We have come," the leader of the party said, "to congratulate you in
the name of the hull of this mining camp on having pretty well cleared
out that gang of stage-robbers. The safety of the roads air a matter of
great importance to this camp, as well as to all the other camps in the
State, seeing t