"They'll certainly get either the mine or their $800," asserted Mr. Adams. "I don't want pay for taking care of anybody in distress." "By all means no," concurred the old doctor. "But according to what Charley understood (and you heard some of it, yourself), that man gave him the dust, and also wanted him to have the mine. So you and he are going out there, and you'll start just as soon as you possibly can." "You will go, won't you, George?" urged Mrs. Adams. "I'll get along splendidly. The main thing is your health. We can't any of us be happy or contented while you're poorly--and the doctor says California is the very thing for you. It does seem as though the way had been opened by Providence. I'm just as glad as I can be!" "So am I!" cheered Charley. "I'm going over and tell Billy." "Hold on a bit," cautioned the doctor. "Wait till we finish up." It required considerable more talk before Mr. Adams was fully persuaded. At last he did say that he'd go, if Mrs. Adams could be left--and if Charley would lend him the money. Lend him the money! As if Charley wouldn't gladly give him every cent--yes, and stay home himself, to boot, if necessary. But that was not necessary; Charley was to go, as partner and comrade. Plans followed thick and fast, and Charley was chock full of news when he found Billy Walker. "You don't know what I know!" "What?" asked Billy. "I'm going out to California! I'll get there before you do!" "Aw--honest?" queried Billy. "We start day after to-morrow. How'll you beat us? When do you start? Who else is going?" "Start next week. Dad and I." "Why don't you come with us? We'd have a lot of fun. How are you going to beat us? What's your outfit? We've got a mighty fine team of horses." "We are not going overland," announced Charley, triumphantly. "That's too long, and my father needs the sea air. We're going across the Isthmus and sail up the Pacific to San Francisco!" "How long will that take?" demanded Billy. "About a month and a half, in all." "Oh, shucks!" said Billy. "It'll take us three months. That's what the papers say, anyhow. Maybe you _will_ beat us, then. But I'll have twice as much fun." "Why?" asked Charley. "Because we'll be twice as long--see? What are you going to take? You'd better look over our stuff. Come on." "We've bought everything we could here in St. Louis," explained Billy, as he led the way. "They say California prices are awful, there's such a rush. Our wagon's full." And as it stood in the Walkers's back yard, it certainly was. "We won't need such a lot of provisions," said Charley, wisely. "We get fed on the boats." "That's so," agreed Billy. "But dad and I'll use up 150 pounds of flour and bacon apiece, just getting across. An article in the paper said people ought to carry that much, besides coffee and sugar and salt and all that. Now I'll show you my clothes."