ig thing. Well, lad, here's the money you gave me to take care
of, and the two hundred dollars due to you. I will give orders to
Simpson that you are to take everything you can require for your journey
from the store, and mind don't stint yourself; you have done right-down
good service here, and I feel very much indebted to you for the way you
have stuck to me at this pinch. I wish you every luck, lad, and I hope
some day that rascally affair at home will be cleared up, and that you
can go back again cleared of that ugly charge. Anyhow, it is well for
you to make your way out here. It will be a satisfaction for you, if you
do go back, to have shown that you were dependent on no one, but that
you could fight your own way, and make your living by the aid of your
own hands and your own brain. And now look here, if at any time you get
sick of gold-digging, as you very well may, and want to turn your hand
to anything else--and in a country like that, mind you, with a
population pouring in from all parts, there will be big
opportunities,--if you want capital to start you, just you send a letter
to David Willcox, New Orleans, and tell me you have drawn on me for five
thousand dollars. I am a rich man, lad, and have no children of my own;
I have some nephews and nieces who will get my money some day, but I can
do what I like with it, and you will be heartily welcome to the sum I
mention. I have taken a fancy to you, and it will be a real pleasure to
me to help you. If you do well you can some day send the money back, if
you like; if you don't do well, there's an end of it. Don't let it
trouble you for a moment, for it certainly won't trouble me, and be sure
you don't hesitate to draw it when you want it. Remember, I shan't
regard it as an obligation, but it will be a real genuine pleasure to me
to cash that order."

Frank thanked Mr. Willcox very heartily for his kind offer, of which he
promised to avail himself should an opportunity arise, and in any case
to write to him occasionally to tell him how he was getting on. Then he
strolled out to examine the great gathering round the settlement, which
hitherto he had had no time to do, having been at work from daybreak
until late at night. As he wandered among the motley throng of
emigrants, he was struck with the hopefulness which everywhere
prevailed, and could not but feel that many of them were doomed to
disappointment. Many of them were storekeepers, men who had never done a
d