Heaven and earth! Did not many a common bit of human clay without family or name of the least value make a large fortune in the gold fields? When, then, The O’Melaghlin stooped to seek the ore, would not the earth open wide her bosom of uncounted treasures and lavish gold upon him?
The O’Melaghlin never doubted for an instant that she would.
So in due time The O’Melaghlin and his wife sailed from Glasgow, bound for San Francisco.
They went in the first cabin of the Golden Glory. Do you think The O’Melaghlin would take second place in any circumstances? No, he would die first!
When they reached San Francisco he took a room for himself and wife at one of the very best hotels, which was also, of course, one of the most expensive in the city.
He gave his name to the office clerk as:
“The O’Melaghlin,” which that hurried and distracted individual incontinently put down as:
T. O. Mannikin.
CHAPTER XXXIV
PARENTAGE OF MIKE AND JUDY
The young pair had been in the city only a few days when, after diligent inquiries in all possible directions, O’Melaghlin heard a rumor of a rich new field of gold in the Black Rock Ridges, some fifty miles from the city, and of a party of adventurers about forming to start for that point.