At any rate, I am off to this region, and my advice to you is, to join our little party." "When do you start?
"To-morrow morning." "I'll think about it," said Andrew Howland.
"You must think quickly," was answered.

"There is no time to spare.
It is but two hours to nightfall; and we are to be in the saddle by sunrise.

So, if you conclude to join our party you have but small space left for preparation." Andrew stood with his eyes upon the ground for nearly a minute; then looking up, he said, in a firm voice-- "I will go." "And, my word for it, you'll never repent the decision.

Gathering up lumps of gold by the peck is a quicker way to fortune than dragooning it at five dollars a month--ha ?" "My anticipations lie within a much narrower circle than yours," was quietly answered to this; "but one thing is certain, if gold is to be had in California for the mere digging, you may depend on Andrew Howland getting his share of the treasure." "That's the spirit, my boy!" said the other, clapping him on the shoulder--"the very spirit of every member of our little party.

And if we don't line our pockets with the precious stuff, it will be because none is to be found." On the next morning, Andrew Howland started on his long and perilous journey for the region of gold, with a new impulse in his heart, and a hope in the future, such as, up to this time, he had never known.
But it was not a mere selfish love of gold that was influencing him.
He was acted on by a nobler feeling..