“I am not sure whether it was best, but I knew we should have to be awake all night if we didn’t. He could have loosened the knots after awhile. He won’t trouble you any more.”
“I wish I felt as sure about Hogan,” said Joe.
“Hogan is a coward. I advise you to keep a revolver constantly on hand. He won’t dare to break in by himself.”
The next morning, after breakfast, Watson prepared to go out in search of work.
“I must begin at the bottom of the ladder once more,” he said to Joe. “It’s my own fault, and I won’t complain. But what a fool I have been! I might have gone home by the next steamer if I hadn’t gambled away all my hard earnings.”
“What sort of work shall you try to get?”
“Anything—I have no right to be particular. Anything that will pay my expenses and give me a chance to lay by something for my family at home.”
“Mr. Watson,” said Joe suddenly, “I’ve been thinking of something that may suit you. Since I came to San Francisco I have never gone outside. I would like to go to the mines.”
“You wouldn’t make as much as you do here.”