All the gold they could conveniently carry was distributed about their persons, and the rest was concealed among the saddles on the backs of their animals. The old mule was not honored with a particle, but carried the luggage and personal baggage.
All being ready the little party turned their faces toward San Francisco, and on a bright summer morning started homeward.
CHAPTER XIV.
One hundred thousand dollars in gold in one sense is a comfortable sum, and yet, in another, it is the very reverse. A man who finds himself in possession of that amount, and attempts to carry it, will find that it weighs several hundred pounds, and is rather awkward to manage. If he tumbles a portion of the nuggets into his pantaloons pockets, their excessive weight is almost sure to send them through the bottom down into his boots, where they are certain to feel still more uncomfortable. If he slings the auriferous luggage over his shoulder, the burden is too great to be carried for any time; if the money is placed upon the strong back of a mule, there is the haunting terror of its being lost or stolen during some unguarded moment.
Perhaps the best thing that any of our readers can do with their hundred thousand dollars, is to put it in a strong safe, or in a good solvent bank, where it can be drawn out piecemeal and devoted to charitable objects; but it will be seen at once that neither of these plans were practicable for our friends while their cargo was in transitu for San Francisco, and when we say that they all felt uneasy, we but feebly express their feelings.
“I tell you if it was know’d what a load we’s takin’ frough de mountains, dere’d be some fo’ks dat would rather like to git ’quainted wid us,” remarked Jim, as they toiled laboriously through the wild country.
“Yes; we may meet with strangers, and if so, we must be very careful that they don’t suspect we have so much gold with us.”
“Yes; I’s been tinkin’ dat I orter caution you an’ Ned ’bout keepin’ a close mouf when strangers am ’bout.”
“You needn’t be afraid of me,” replied Edwin. “If any one reveals it, I am sure it will be you.”