“We shall have plenty of that when we get to British Columbia.”
“What’s all this then?” he said.
“Part of the United States—California.”
“Oh, ah! of course. Seems to me I spent so much time learning to write a good hand, that I don’t know half so much of other things as I should.”
“Plenty of time for learning more, Esau.”
“Yes, plenty of time. Seem to have more time than we want, and I don’t enjoy going about much, though there’s plenty to see. One’s so unsettled like.”
“Yes; we want to get to our journey’s end.”
“So this is California, is it? That’s where they got so much gold. I say, let’s stop here.”
“Nonsense! We must get to Fort Elk, and see what is to be done there till Mr John comes.”
“All right, I’m ready for anything. Here’s one of the chaps coming who wanted us to let him get us a ship yesterday.”