"Fifteen barrels of gold!" said Pate.
"Of what?"
"Of gold."
"Have they discovered gold near Mapleton?"
"No—no—not here."
"Where, then?"
"In California. Have you not heard the news? The papers have been full of the accounts for the last three weeks. Where have you been living?"
"At home."
"And not heard of the gold discoveries! People are digging out gold-dust by the barrel. In a week a man can become as rich as John Jacob Astor. We have formed a company and are going to California as soon as the ship is ready to sail."
"I would like to go," said Moses.