r; we do not."

"Where's Sacramento?"

"Three miles above."

"This must be the town old Captain Sutter's started," remarked Mr.
Grigsby, surveying it narrowly. "Well, he's taken plenty of land to
spread out in." And that was so, for about twenty houses were
scattered along the high bank for half a mile. "Hope the old captain's
up at Sacramento. I'd like to see him."

"How large is Sacramento, stranger?" asked a neighbor at the rail.

"Large, you say?" answered another. "Make yore guess. Last April when
I came out with my pile it had four houses. Now I'm told it's boomin'
wuss'n San Francisco--and you know what that means."

"So you've been to the mines, have you?" invited Mr. Adams.

"Yes, sir; I have, sir. You bet I have, sir."

"How'd you make it?"

"To the tune of $20,000 in two weeks, sir. Then I was fool enough to
quit, and spend it all in San Francisco. But here I'm back again, for
$50,000."

Instantly everybody within sound of his voice deluged him with
questions, as to "How much could be dug in a day," and other foolish
remarks. Charley stared at him. This certainly was a wonderful land.
If a man could make and spend $20,000 and then expect $50,000 more, why
should anyone remain poor?

"Look at the ships!" cried voices, as the _Mary Ann_ rounded a curve.

Against the timber to the right, before, rose a score and more of
mast-heads. Above the timber floated a cloud of brown dust, as if
stirred by many feet. And beyond the masts, in the midst of the trees,
could be descried tents and houses--a great number, laid out in
streets, with a levee of earth and sod piled high with freight and
baggage, fronting the river. This was Sacramento, at last!

[Illustration: The voyage of the schooner "Mary Ann". On the way from
San Francisco to the Gold Fields, 1849]

The _Mary Ann_ glided in on a long tack. Down fluttered her main-sail,
presently down fluttered her fore-sail; and as she swung to, spilling
the breeze from her jibs, close to the bank at the end of the levee, a
sailor sprang into the water and swimming until he could wade carried a
hawser ashore. This he made fast to the great root of a tree, washed
bare by the waters. All up and down the banks other vessels were
moored likewise, to trees and trunks and roots, so that some of the
branches brushed the yards and spars. A number of cook's galleys had
been set up on shore, as cabins, and several ship's figure-heads were
established