"What would you do?" asked Toney.

"I would dig sixteen hours in each day until I had a hundred thousand dollars," said Tom.

"And so would I," said Toney; "for I want exactly one hundred thousand dollars."

"I wonder if there is not gold in our newly-acquired territory on the Pacific coast?" said Tom.

"Would you go there?" asked Toney.

"Yes," said Tom, "and stay for five years, if necessary, to get enough gold to buy a home——"

"For Ida and the cherubs?" said Toney.

"What noise is that in the wood?" exclaimed Tom.

"Two drunken men quarreling over an empty bottle," said Toney.