"Never mind, I've got quite a pile," answered Bob.
"But I don't want to sponge on you, Bob."
"I'll make you a loan of twenty-five dollars," replied the sailor boy, producing the money. "I haven't forgotten how you saved me from being robbed. If it hadn't been for you and Dickson I'd be penniless."
"Well, I'll take the money as a loan—when what I have on hand is gone," answered Mark.
It was decided that Mark should remain at Hopeville with Bob for a few days, and in the morning the two boys bid good-by to Jed Dickson. As a keepsake, and for his kindness in assisting Bob, the sailor boy presented Dickson with a fancy watch charm, for which the man was very thankful.
"Hope we meet again some day," said Dickson to both boys. "Maybe in the gold diggings, eh?"
"Perhaps," answered Mark. As yet, California seemed a long way off.
During the day Bob saw the lawyer who had the money left by the sailor boy's aunt. There was a little trouble about getting the lawyer to turn the money over to Bob—he not being of age—but finally the matter was straightened out and Bob found himself exactly ninety-five dollars richer than before.
"Now, take my advice and be careful of your cash," said the lawyer.
"I'm going to California," answered Bob. "And I'm going to take my friend here with me."