TAKING IN ANOTHER PARTNER
They soon became acquainted with several folks camping in that
vicinity. Next to them on one side was a man from Iowa named Josiah
Socket, who had with him his wife and five children, three boys and two
girls. Socket was a quiet individual, but his wife could talk enough
for a dozen people.
"How do you do?" said the woman, the morning after Bob and Mark had
settled down. "Nice morning, isn't it, but the sun is going to be warm.
All alone, and only boys, too! Do you expect to get all the way to
California? But of course you do, or you wouldn't be here. It's going
to be a long trip, so I'm telling Josiah--I mean my husband. Doing your
own cooking, too, I see. You ought to have some woman to do that. Where
are you from, if I'm not asking what I hadn't ought to?"
"We're from Pennsylvania," answered Mark.
"Land sakes alive! You've had a pretty big trip already, haven't you?
Did you come on that mule? I like mules almost as well as horses. At
home my father had six mules, and they worked----"
"Ann, don't talk those boys to death," interrupted Mr. Socket.
"Who's talking anybody to death? I'm certain I'm not, Josiah Socket--I
scarcely said a word. I've got a right to find out who my neighbors
are, haven't I? If I depended on you, we'd never know a soul in this
whole community. Now I believe in being sociable, and----"
"Excuse me, madam, but we must be off," said Mark. "We've got to buy
some things, and----"
"Run along, lads," said Josiah Socket. "Ann will keep you here all day
if you let her." And they hurried away while Socket had to stand a good
lecture from his spouse.
The boys had decided to go to town and see how cheaply they could
obtain a small wagon and some provisions. They had heard that it would
be necessary to take along beans, flour, coffee, and numerous other
articles. They also wanted to get a rifle and a shotgun, and it was a
serious question as to how much the articles were to cost.
"We can't spend all of our money," said Bob. "For there is no telling
what we may need when we get to the gold diggings."
As they walked along--they had left the mule in care of one of the
Socket boys--they came to a small hillock of ground, upon which a boy
of their own age was sitting. He was rather shabbily dressed, and his
straw hat had a large hole through the crown.
"Can you tell us the way to Ulmer's store?" asked Bob, more to speak to
the lad than for any other purpose, since he knew the direction fairly
well.
"Sure I can," was the ready answer, and the boy pointed with his
sunburnt hand. "Take that trail yonder, and then the first trail on the
left. You can't miss it. He has a flag flying all the time, and a crowd
of emigrants are always hanging around."
"Thank you."
"Are you fellows bound for California?"
"We are," put in Mark. The strange boy interested him.
"Wish I was going. Of course your folks are with you."
"I haven't any folks," returned Bob. "I'm alone in the world, excepting
for my chum Mark," and he nodded to his companion.
"We are going alone," said Mark.
"What, no grown folks with you?" cried the strange youth.
"Don't you think we can get through?" questioned Bob.
"Mother didn't think I could get through. Said the journey was too
rough."
"Oh, were you thinking of going?" asked Mark, in surprise.
"Yes. In fact, I haven't thought of anything else since the news came
in. You see, we're poor over our way, and father isn't very well, and
I'd like to go to California and make some money to send home to the
folks."
"It's a long journey," said Bob, and now he looked the strange boy over
more carefully. He was well set up, and looked as if he could stand
almost any amount of knocking round.
"I don't care how long the trip is."
"Say, if you are acquainted around here, maybe you could put us on the
track of buying a cheap but good wagon," said Mark.
"A wagon? Why, we've got a wagon father may let you have--if it's good
enough. We don't use it any more."
"Will you show it to us?"
"Certainly. Come on."
The boy led the way, and as they walked on he introduced himself. His
name was Silas Williams, although he said everybody called him plain
Si. He was the oldest of eight children, and his parents had emigrated
from New Jersey to Missouri six years before.
The Williams farm proved to be in fairly good condition, although the
lack of money to do with was plainly evident. They found Mr. Williams
sitting by the kitchen door, nursing a leg that was rheumatic. Two boys
were at work over a chopping block, and a girl was weeding a garden
patch.
"These boys want to see the red wagon," said Si. "Perhaps they'll buy
it. They want a wagon for the trip to California."
"All right," answered Mr. Williams. "They can have it for forty dollars
and not a cent less. But why didn't their men folks come over?"
"They haven't any men folks, father; they are going it alone."
"Gee shoo! Oh, well, show the wagon to 'em."
Si led the way to a shed and rolled the red wagon into view. A glance
told Mark and Bob that the wagon was a fair one and in good repair.
"There's a top for it--up in the barn loft," said Si. "But it's full of
holes and will have to be mended."
"Well, I guess we could mend it," answered Mark. "But don't you think
forty dollars is a good price?" He was growing as cautious as was Bob.
"Father wants forty dollars--I don't think he'll take less. Still you
might ask him."
They examined the wagon with care and ran it around the yard of the
farm. Then they walked back to where Mr. Williams was sitting.
"I'll give twenty-five dollars for the wagon," said Bob.
"Make it thirty-five dollars and it's yours."
"No, twenty-five."
"Then split the difference and call it thirty dollars," said Mr.
Williams, and this was the selling price finally agreed upon. The boys
said they would bring the mule around the next morning and take the
vehicle away.
"Sit down and tell me about your plans," said Mr. Williams, after the
money had been paid over. And a talk lasting over an hour followed.
They were joined by Mrs. Williams and her daughter Bess, who was a year
younger than Si.
"If they can do that, pa, I don't see why our Si can't do it," said
Bess. "He's just as big and every bit as strong. Why don't you let Si
go?"
"Maybe you'd like to take me in as a partner," said Si, with a longing
look in his clear blue eyes. "I'd be willing to do my full share of the
work, I can vouch for that!"
"Si's heart has been set on going for a long time," came from Mrs.
Williams, a modest little woman with a pale face. "I shouldn't mind
it if we had plenty of money and could give him a good outfit. But to
start off with next to nothing----" She ended with a sigh.
"We are starting off with little enough," answered Bob. "We've got a
mule and the wagon, and a little tent, and we are going to buy some
provisions and firearms, and then we'll be pretty low on cash, I can
tell you."
"I do want to go so much," said Si. "I've been planning it every day.
Father, you could afford to give me the wagon, couldn't you?"
"Why, it's sold!"
"Then the price of it--and maybe some provisions. Then if they'll have
me----" He paused and looked at Mark and Bob.
"We might take you," answered Bob, slowly. "We'd want to talk it over
first."
"Why can't you come over to the house!" burst out Si, eagerly. "Bring
the mule over and your tent. We've got a spare room----"
"For the mule?" asked Mark.
"Oh, the idea!" shrieked Bess, and then a general laugh followed.
"You know what I mean," continued Si. "Come on over, please!"
"All right, we'll come," answered Bob, after a nod from Mark.
"I'll help you move," said the farm boy, and walked back to camp
with them. Soon the tent was taken down, and the outfit strapped to
Darling's back, and an hour later found them installed at the Williams
homestead.
Mark and Bob found their new friends very agreeable. Though the house
was scantily furnished, it was scrupulously clean, and the meals served
by Mrs. Williams and Bess beat the camp meals "all to pieces," as Mark
declared. In the evening they talked the California matter over once
more, and resumed it in the morning.
"I think I can buy your provisions for you at a reasonable figure,"
said Mr. Williams. "And I've got a shotgun here I guess we can spare,
and I know where you can get a rifle, if you want one."
"We have some beans we can spare--and some sides of bacon," put in Mrs.
Williams.
"Could you put in those things as Si's share?" asked Bob.
"Yes, yes, please do!" shouted Si, rushing over to his parent. "Hurrah!
It's settled that I am to go after all!" He threw up his old straw hat.
"Not so fast, Si," broke in his father. "You ain't real sure that they
want you."
Si stopped short and he looked pleadingly at Bob and Mark.
"Tell him he can go," whispered Mark to his chum.
"Why, Si can go if he can bear his share of the expense," said Bob. "I
know Mark and I will like first-rate to have him along."
"Bully for you!" said Si, and rushing up he shook hands with both boys.
"Oh, we are bound to get through somehow, and find a lot of gold, too!"
he added.
"To be sure we'll get through," returned Mark. "But the next time you
shake hands please don't squeeze my fingers quite so hard." He had
found the country boy's grip a tough one.
"Si can do the real hard work," came from one of the little Williams
boys. "He can split wood, an'--an' everything!"
"Yes, I'll split the wood, and do a lot besides--if only I go," said
Si, and then in sheer delight he swung his little brother on high. "And
just wait till I get back, Benny," he went on. "You shall have a lot
of toys, and mother a silk dress, and Bess those music lessons, and
father----"
"Oh, I'll sit all day long and figure up what the nuggets are worth,"
finished Mr. Williams, with a laugh. "Well, boys, now it's settled, I
wish all of you luck, and there's my hand on it." And he shook hands
all around.