er," etc. And on "steamer day"--a day
when one of the big mail and passenger steamers was expected in--every
citizen was gazing at Telegraph Hill to see the arms extend
horizontally right and left, wigwagging, at last, "side-wheel steamer."

"The _Panama_! When was the _Panama_ due?"

"On the nineteenth, bub."

But would she come? Supposing she were late. Then those mothers might
be late, too, for Christmas! But she was not late; no, sir; for at
sunset of the _eighteenth_, see, up went the two arms of the signal on
Telegraph Hill, extended horizontally to announce: "Side-wheel steamer
entering the Golden Gate." And presently there came the _Panama_,
surging majestically through the channel, and rounding to before the
city.

That was a long night, intervening before the passengers might land.
Charley and Billy slept scarcely a wink. They were at the wharf bright
and early--but no earlier than an army of other persons almost as
excited as they. The _Panama_ began to unload her passengers; the
usual fleet of skiffs and ship's boats put out, filled, from her side.

Charley and Billy peered expectantly. Supposing, after all, those
mothers had missed the _Panama_ and had not come. But no! That was
they, wasn't it, in the second boat? Yes! Hurrah and hurrah! Forward
bolted Charley; forward bolted Billy; and delivered such a series of
frantic hugs that their mothers simply _had_ to know them, in spite of
tan and clothes.

"Why!" gasped Charley's mother, holding him off a moment, to gain
breath and to make sure. "How well you look! Where's your father? Is
he all right? When do we get to the mine? Are things going well? Oh,
Charley, but I'm glad to see you!"

"Everything's splendid," panted Charley. "But this is the best of all."

And from the behavior of Billy and _his_ mother, Charley rather
imagined that they agreed with him.

So it proved to be a merry Christmas at Gold Hill and the Golden West
mine. And thus the famous year of Forty-nine passed into the busy
prosperous year of Fifty, during which California and the Golden West
mine grew and prospered together.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Gold Seekers of '49, by Edwin L. Sabin

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