clerk spoke with respect of
Talbot, and told us we would probably find him at one of the several
places of business he mentioned, or at the Ward Block. We thanked him,
and went direct to the Ward Block first. All of us confessed to a great
desire to see that building.

It was to be a three-story brick structure, and was situated at one
corner of the Plaza. We gazed upon it with appropriate awe, for we were
accustomed to logs and canvas; and to some extent we were able to
realize what imported bricks and the laying of them meant. The foreman
told us that Talbot had gone out "Mission way" with Sam Brannan and some
others to look at some property, and would not be back until late.

Johnny and I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering about. Yank
retired to the soft chairs of one of the numerous gambling places. His
broken leg would not stand so much tramping.

We had lots of fun, and many interesting minor adventures and
encounters, none of which has any particular bearing here. The town had
spread. Most of the houses were of the flimsied description. Many people
were still living in tents. The latter flopped and tugged in the strong
wind. Some men had merely little cot tents, just big enough to cover the
bed. An owner of one of these claimed stoutly that they were better than
big tents.

"They don't get blowed away by the wind, and they're fine to sleep
under," he asserted, "and a man cooks outside, anyway."

"How about when it rains?" I asked him.

"Then I go down to the Verandah or the Arcade or Dennison's Exchange and
stay there till she quits," said he.

In the evening, as Talbot had not yet returned, we wandered from one
place of amusement to another. The gambling places were more numerous,
more elaborate, more important than ever. Beside the usual rough-looking
miners and labourers, who were in the great majority, there were small
groups of substantial, grave, important looking men conferring. I
noticed again the contrast with the mining-camp gambling halls in the
matter of noise; here nothing was heard but the clink of coin or the
dull thud of gold dust, a low murmur of conversation, or an occasional
full-voiced exclamation.

Johnny, who could never resist the tables, was soon laying very small
stakes on _monte_. After a time I tired of the close air and heavy
smoke, and slipped away. The lower part of the town was impossible on
account of the mud, so I made my way out along the edge of the hills.
The