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[Illustration: Walter and Bill tramping across the Isthmus.--_Page 132._]
A STORY OF CALIFORNIA LIFE IN THE FIFTIES
Author of "Watch Fires of '76," "On Plymouth Rock," "Decisive Events in American History Series," etc.
Norwood Press BERWICK & SMITH CO. Norwood, Mass. U. S. A.
I. A NARROW ESCAPE 9 II. WALTER TELLS HIS STORY 18 III. AND CHARLEY TELLS HIS 30 IV. WHAT HAPPENED ON BOARD THE "ARGONAUT" 37 V. ONE WAY OF GOING TO CALIFORNIA 45 VI. A BLACK SHEEP IN THE FOLD 66 VII. THE FLIGHT 82 VIII. OUTWARD BOUND 100 IX. ACROSS NICARAGUA 117 X. THE LUCK OF YANKEE JIM 141 XI. SEEING THE SIGHTS IN 'FRISCO 154 XII. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 165 XIII. IN WHICH A MAN BREAKS INTO HIS OWN STORE, AND STEALS HIS OWN SAFE 182 XIV. CHARLEY AND WALTER GO A-GUNNING 203 XV. THE YOUNG VIGILANTES 215 XVI. RAMON FINDS HIS MATCH 231 XVII. A SHARP RISE IN LUMBER 241 XVIII. A CORNER IN LUMBER 250 XIX. HEARTS OF GOLD 262 XX. BRIGHT, SEABURY & COMPANY 274
Walter and Bill tramping across the Isthmus (_Frontispiece._) 132 Walter rescuing Dora Bright 42 Waiting for the opening of the mail 160 The hunters hunted by a grizzly bear 208 Ramon made to give up his stealings 236 Arrival of the _Southern Cross_ at Sacramento 254
"As passenger train Number Four was rounding a curve at full speed, ten miles out of this city, on the morning of October 4, and at a point where a deep cut shut out the view ahead, the engineer saw some one, man or boy, he could not well make out which, running down the track toward the train, frantically swinging both arms and waving his cap in the air as if to attract attention. The engine-man instantly shut off steam, whistled for brakes, and quickly brought the train to a standstill.
"The engine-man put his head out of the cab window. The conductor jumped off, followed by fifty frightened passengers, all talking and gesticulating at once; while the person who had just given the warning signal slackened his breakneck pace, somewhat, upon seeing that he had succeeded in stopping the train.