During the voyage there were numerous discussions in relation to his probable fate; but ultimately the opinion prevailed that he had gone back to Lima, to pay his bill at the hotel, and had thus been left behind. The ship sailed on without him, and after a voyage of two months, passed through the Golden Gate, and anchored in the harbor of San Francisco. CHAPTER XLV. "This seems to be a city of tents," said the Professor, as they stood on a hill which has long since been removed, and now forms a portion of the artificial foundation for the immense warehouses which stand where their ship anchored between Happy Valley and Goat Island. "I see very few houses," said Tom Seddon. "Only the old Spanish structures built a hundred years ago with adobe brick," said the Professor. "In two years from the present period," said Toney, "you will see houses all over this space,--hotels of six stories, and commodious dwellings and warehouses." "Toney is a prophet," said Tom. "On the very spot where we now stand there is gold in abundance," said Toney. "In these sand-hills?" exclaimed Tom. "Yes; in these very sand-hills where we now are," said Toney; "if a man has sagacity enough to perceive his chance and avail himself of it." "I divine your meaning," said the Professor. "Let us buy one of these sand-hills." "That was just what I was about to propose," said Toney. "What will we do with it?" asked Tom. "Leave it here and go to the mines," said Toney. "It won't run away," said the Professor. "Of what use will it be to us, or anybody else?" said Tom, kicking the sand about with his feet. "In a few years an immense city will extend for miles around," said Toney. "Our lot will be in the very center of the town." "Hurrah! hurrah!" cried Tom, throwing up his wool hat. "I see! I see! let us buy the sand-hill." "How much money have you?" asked Toney. "Five thousand dollars," said Tom. "I have about an equal amount in my trunk," said the Professor. "And I can raise about as much more," said Toney. "Come, let us make our purchase without delay." Business was then rapidly transacted in the El Dorado of the West, where, at that period, immense fortunes were frequently made and lost in a month. In a few hours the three friends were the owners of the sand-hill, and had their titles secured by deeds duly executed. On the following morning they hunted up Hercules and his companions, who were feasting on wild geese and quails at a tent in Montgomery Street, and embarked in a boat for Stockton, from which point they intended to proceed across the country to the mines on the Moquelumne River. In the afternoon of the same day they were entering the mouth of the San Joaquin when a schooner ran by them. "What place is this?" shouted Toney. "New York," answered a man on the schooner. "Not much like New York," said the Professor. "What place is it?" asked Tom Seddon. "New York!" shouted the man, with vehemence. "He knows," said Toney.