d to Ned's wandering thoughts, and
he too bade the stars good-night, and sought his pillow. In due course
the vessel cast anchor off the town of San Francisco.

"There is many a slip 'tween the cup and the lip." It is an old proverb
that, but one which is proved, by frequent use, on the part of authors
in all ages, to be a salutary reminder to humanity. Its truth was
unpleasantly exemplified on the arrival of the steamer. As the tide was
out at the time, the captain ordered the boats to be lowered, in order
to land the passengers. The moment they touched the water they were
filled by impatient miners, who struggled to be first ashore. The boat
into which Ned and his friends got was soon overloaded with passengers,
and the captain ordered her to be shoved off.

"Hold on!" shouted a big coarse-looking fellow, in a rough blue jacket
and wide-awake, who was evidently drunk; "let me in first."

"There's no room!" cried several voices. "Shove off."

"There's room enough!" cried the man, with an oath; at the same time
seizing the rope.

"If ye do come down," said a sailor, sternly, "I'll pitch ye overboard."

"Will ye!" growled the man; and the next instant he sprang upon the edge
of the boat, which upset, and left its freight struggling in the water.
The other boats immediately picked them all up; and, beyond a wetting,
they were physically none the worse. But, alas! the bags of gold which
our adventurers were carrying ashore with them, sank to the bottom of
the sea! They were landed on the wharf at San Francisco as penniless as
they were on the day of their arrival in California.

This reverse of fortune was too tremendous to be realised in a moment.
As they stood on the wharf; dripping wet, and gazing at each other in
dismay, they suddenly, as if by one consent, burst into a loud laugh.
But the laugh had a strong dash of bitterness in its tone; and when it
passed, the expression of their countenances was not cheerful.

Bill Jones was the first to speak, as they wandered, almost helplessly,
through the crowded streets, while little Nelly ever and anon looked
wistfully up into Larry's face, as he led her by the hand.

"It's a stunnin' smash," said Bill, fetching a deep sigh. "But w'en a
thing's done, an' can't be undone, then it's unpossible, that's wot it
is; and wot's unpossible there's no use o' tryin' for to do. 'Cause
why? it only wastes yer time an' frets yer sperrit--that's _my_
opinion."

Not one