s
separated from the water by a wide strip of tide-land; but on a road
which bordered the point and connected the hide-houses with the town,
other people came at a gallop, horseback. The captain went ashore, in
the ship's boat; but stay here was to be short, so no passengers were
allowed to go.

"Is there gold in those hills yon, mister?" asked a lean, lank
Arkansan, of Mr. Grigsby, who was accepted as an authority on the
country.

"There might be; I dunno," responded the Fremonter. "But it's powerful
dry, according to Kit Carson. You can't mine without water. Of
course, those flat-tops to the south of us are in Mexican territory.
To my notion, it isn't gold that will make this southern country; it's
climate and commerce. The climate down here is the finest in the
world. Warm like this all the year 'round, and cool enough nights for
sleeping. No bad storms, either. This bay runs about three miles
southward, yet every inch of it is landlocked. When that railroad
across the Isthmus is finished, to help emigration, I look to see a big
city here, and a harbor full of ships."

"A ship canal across the Isthmus would help this country a lot," mused
Mr. Adams. "The west part of the United States is too far from the
east part; a canal would bring them together."

"Yes, and so would a railroad clean from the Missouri to the Pacific,"
agreed the Fremonter. "That will come, too, in time; and to go to
California will be as easy as to go to Washington or New York."

"Looks as though a toler'ble lot more passengers were comin' aboard,
don't it?" remarked the Arkansan, staring fixedly at the beach.

"Yes, sir; and overlanders, too!" exclaimed Mr. Grigsby, his gaze
narrowing. "I reckon they must have got in by the southern route along
the Gila River. And if so, I pity 'em. It's a terrible trail."

XIII

INTO THE GOLDEN GATE

The captain's boat was returning from the landing at the hide-houses,
accompanied by a large whale-boat filled with strangers. Gun barrels
out-thrust from the mass, baggage was visible, and as the whale-boat
drew nearer to the steamer the persons in it were seen to be tattered
and gaunt, as if they had been through great hardships. The captain's
boat contained a guest in United States Army uniform--an officer,
evidently.

The captain and his guest climbed into the steamer; then the whale-boat
unloaded. Goodness gracious, there were not only the travel-worn men,
but two women also