, turned back suddenly and attempted to
pass Mab. The mare was thrust sidewise into the denser bush, where she
nearly fell. Recovering, she flung her weight against Bob. Both
riders' legs were caught in the consequent squeeze, and, as Bob plunged
ahead down hill, Dede was nearly scraped off. Daylight threw his horse
on to its haunches and at the same time dragged Dede back into the
saddle. Showers of twigs and leaves fell upon them, and predicament
followed predicament, until they emerged on the hilltop the worse for
wear but happy and excited. Here no trees obstructed the view. The
particular hill on which they were, out-jutted from the regular line of
the range, so that the sweep of their vision extended over
three-quarters of the circle. Below, on the flat land bordering the
bay, lay Oakland, and across the bay was San Francisco. Between the
two cities they could see the white ferry-boats on the water. Around
to their right was Berkeley, and to their left the scattered villages
between Oakland and San Leandro. Directly in the foreground was
Piedmont, with its desultory dwellings and patches of farming land, and
from Piedmont the land rolled down in successive waves upon Oakland.

"Look at it," said Daylight, extending his arm in a sweeping gesture.
"A hundred thousand people there, and no reason there shouldn't be half
a million. There's the chance to make five people grow where one grows
now. Here's the scheme in a nutshell. Why don't more people live in
Oakland? No good service with San Francisco, and, besides, Oakland is
asleep. It's a whole lot better place to live in than San Francisco.
Now, suppose I buy in all the street railways of Oakland, Berkeley,
Alameda, San Leandro, and the rest,--bring them under one head with a
competent management? Suppose I cut the time to San Francisco one-half
by building a big pier out there almost to Goat Island and establishing
a ferry system with modern up-to-date boats? Why, folks will want to
live over on this side. Very good. They'll need land on which to
build. So, first I buy up the land. But the land's cheap now. Why?
Because it's in the country, no electric roads, no quick communication,
nobody guessing that the electric roads are coming. I'll build the
roads. That will make the land jump up. Then I'll sell the land as
fast as the folks will want to buy because of the improved ferry system
and transportation facilities.

"You see, I give the valu