suffer a check even for a
day, although the cost of building was unprecedented. And this
commercial prosperity continued in spite of the fact that the place was
unhealthy--being a furnace in summer, and in winter little better than a
swamp.

"It's a capital hotel," remarked Captain Bunting to his companions, as
they sat round their little table, enjoying their pipes after dinner; "I
wonder if they make a good thing out of it?"

"Sure, if they don't," said Larry, tilting his chair on its hind legs,
and calmly blowing a cloud of smoke towards the roof, "it's a losin'
game they're playin', for they sarve out the grub at a tearin' pace."

"They are doing well, I doubt not," said Ned Sinton; "and they deserve
to, for the owner--or owners, I don't know how many or few there are--
made a remarkable and enterprising start."

"How was that?" asked the captain.

"I heard of it when I was down here with Tom," continued Sinton. "You
must know that this was the first regular hotel opened in the city, and
it was considered so great an event that it was celebrated by salvos of
artillery, and, on the part of the proprietors, by a great unlimited
feast to all who chose to come."

"What!" cried Larry, "free, gratis, for nothin'?"

"Ay, for nothing. It was done in magnificent style, I assure you. Any
one who chose came and called for what he wanted, and got it at once.
The attendance was prompt, and as cheerfully given as though it had been
paid for. Gin-slings, cocktails, mint-juleps, and brandy-smashes went
round like a circular storm, even champagne flowed like water; and
venison, wild-fowl, salmon, grizzly-bear-steaks, and pastry--all the
delicacies of the season, in short--were literally to be had for the
asking. What it cost the spirited proprietors I know not, but certainly
it was a daring stroke of genius that deserved patronage."

"Faix it did," said Larry, emphatically; "and they shall have it, too;--
here, waiter, a brandy-smash and a cheroot, and be aisy as to the cost;
I think me bank'll stand it."

"What say you to a stroll!" said Ned, rising.

"By all means," replied Captain Bunting, jumping up, and laying down his
pipe. Larry preferred to remain where he was; so the two friends left
him to enjoy his cheroot, and wandered away, where fancy led, to see the
town. There was much to be seen. It required no theatrical
representation of life to amuse one in Sacramento at that time. The
whole city was a vast