"What's the charge?" asked Mr. Grigsby. "Seex dollair the dozen, m'sieur, for ze wash; the same for ze ir-ron." "There goes your newspaper money, Adams," laughed the Fremonter. "I think I'll do my own washing, after this." "We have to live, my wife and I, messieurs," explained the Frenchman, spreading his hands. "In France we live on ze very little. In New York we have one tres bon cafe, and we charge ze very little. But out here----" and he shrugged his shoulders. "We wash, and for zis meesairable caban--what you call it? hut--we pay ze price of 500 dollair ze month." "Wash what we've brought, but don't you dare to iron them; eh, Grigsby?" said Mr. Adams. "Ze rough wash it shall be, messieurs," bowed the stout Frenchman. "On the trap trail we washed twice a year--spring and fall," commented Mr. Grigsby, as they trudged out. "That's plenty often enough here, too, the way prices run." "Look at the crowd!" exclaimed Mr. Adams, as they emerged at the corner; for part way up a hilly street a great throng had gathered in front of a low building, and a constant stream of other people were hastening that way. "What's the matter up there?" he inquired, of a passerby. The man scarcely paused. He only turned his head, to drawl: "Post-office, mister, and the mail's come in." "That must be the mail we brought," cried Charley. "If you came on the _California_, you brought it, sonny," informed another stranger. "When's the office open, sir?" inquired Mr. Adams. "Whenever the mail's distributed, of course," replied the man. "I hear the _California_ fetched about 25,000 pieces, in all languages from American to Chinese. The postmaster and two assistants have been working all night and they'll probably work all day and another night." "Well, we don't expect anything this time; do you, Grigsby?" The Fremonter shook his head. "Nor do I," volunteered the strange man. "But I've a partner up there who's been expecting a letter for six months. See those lines of hopefuls? By noon they'll be extended two blocks. The first in line must have got there as soon as the ship was sighted, last evening. I've known men to wait in line for a week, and have their meals brought to them. And then as like as not they didn't get their letter." "I was thinking that we'd get what few supplies we need," said Mr. Adams, as they resumed their way, "and start out for the diggin's in the morning. There'll be some way of getting up there, I suppose." "Yes, by boat, horse or foot," answered the Fremonter. "I don't reckon we want to buy any horses, and it's a long trail afoot. I'll see about a boat if you'll lay in what supplies you think we'll need." "All right. Sugar, salt, flour, bacon and potatoes will be enough, won't it?" "Plenty. I'll meet you at the hotel at noon. Adios." "Adios," replied Mr. Adams and Charley; and the tall Fremonter strode away.