nsportation. I mention this fact merely to show how so
practical and stout a voyager as Thatcher might have confounded the
perplexities attending the administration of a great steamship company
with selfish greed and brutality; and that he, with other Californians,
may not have known the fact, since recorded by the Commodore's family
clergyman, that the great millionaire was always true to the hymns of
his childhood.

Nevertheless, Thatcher found time to be cheerful and helpful to his
fellow passengers, and even to be so far interesting to "Yuba Bill,"
the driver, as to have the box seat placed at his disposal. "But," said
Thatcher, in some concern, "the box seat was purchased by that other
gentleman in Sacramento. He paid extra for it, and his name's on your
way-bill!" "That," said Yuba Bill, scornfully, "don't fetch me even ef
he'd chartered the whole shebang. Look yar, do you reckon I'm goin' to
spile my temper by setting next to a man with a game eye? And such an
eye! Gewhillikins! Why, darn my skin, the other day when we war watering
at Webster's, he got down and passed in front of the off-leader,--that
yer pinto colt that's bin accustomed to injins, grizzlies, and buffalo,
and I'm bless ef, when her eye tackled his, ef she didn't jist git up
and rar round that I reckoned I'd hev to go down and take them blinders
off from HER eyes and clap on HIS." "But he paid the money, and is
entitled to his seat," persisted Thatcher. "Mebbe he is--in the office
of the Kempeny," growled Yuba Bill; "but it's time some folks knowed
that out in the plains I run this yer team myself."--A fact which was
self-evident to most of the passengers. "I suppose his authority is
as absolute on this dreary waste as a ship captain's in mid ocean,"
exclaimed Thatcher to the baleful-eyed stranger. Mr. Wiles--whom the
reader has recognized--assented with the public side of his face, but
looked vengeance at Yuba Bill with the other, while Thatcher, innocent
of the presence of one of his worst enemies, placated Bill so far as
to restore Wiles to his rights. Wiles thanked him. "Shall I have
the pleasure of your company far?" Wiles asked insinuatingly. "To
Washington," replied Thatcher frankly. "Washington is a gay city during
the session," again suggested the stranger. "I'm going on business,"
said Thatcher bluntly.

A trifling incident occurred at Pine-Tree Crossing which did not
heighten Yuba Bill's admiration of the stranger. As Bill opened the