d intended going to the fields.
Their pursuits being similar they naturally drifted into
acquaintanceship. After a little conversation, Paul asked him how he was
going up.

"Well," responded Lord, "I would go upon the regular wagon but my
finances will not permit me. It costs twelve pounds and one is only
allowed twenty pounds baggage."

"Twelve pounds? Sixty dollars? Why, good Heavens, how far is it? I was
thinking about walking up."

"A little over seven hundred miles," was Lord's reply. Paul nearly fell
over in his astonishment but said: "We are here and will get up no
matter how far it is!"

On comparing notes they found that they could not afford to take the
regular wagon that generally consumed twelve days in reaching the
fields. They were told about another town named Port Elizabeth by going
to which they could save three hundred miles of overland travel. Owing
to the enormous fares charged in those times, they found it would be
cheaper to go from Cape Town direct by ox trains. It took one of these
trains from fifty to sixty days to get up and was anything but a
comfortable trip. While waiting in Cape Town very much perplexed as to
how they would get up, Paul made the acquaintance of an agent of Cobb &
Co., who were engaged in the transportation business from the coast to
the diggings. After some conversation, Paul was engaged to go as
assistant superintendent of a heavy train which was about to start.
On their long and tedious trip, the average time was about fifteen
miles a day, when the order for outspanning would be given. This order
meant to unhitch, dismount and camp for the night. As there were very
few restaurants or hotels on the way, a large quantity of provisions was
carried and like an army the train was made up in messes and did their
own cooking. The Hottentot drivers and assistants made one mess, the
passengers another, while those in command formed a third. Lord was
also fortunate in getting transportation with the same train. This
opening was looked upon as a Godsend as they not only got up themselves
with their tools but had their provisions free. The train consisted
of fifteen immensely long covered wagons of the stoutest build. Each
wagon had between seven and nine thousand pounds made up mostly of
provisions and for which the moderate price of nine dollars per
hundred pounds was made for transportation. To each wagon was hitched a
long line of oxen, har