One hundred thousand dollars in gold in one sense is a comfortable sum, and yet, in another, it is the very reverse. A man who finds himself in possession of that amount, and attempts to carry it, will find that it weighs several hundred pounds, and is rather awkward to manage. If he tumbles a portion of the nuggets into his pantaloons pockets, their excessive weight is almost sure to send them through the bottom down into his boots, where they are certain to feel still more uncomfortable. If he the auriferous luggage over his shoulder, the burden is too great to be carried[88] for any time; if the money is placed upon the strong back of a , there is the haunting terror of its being lost or stolen during some unguarded moment.  
Perhaps the best thing that any of our readers can do with their hundred thousand dollars, is to put it in a strong safe, or in a good bank, where it can be out and to charitable objects; but it will be seen at once that neither of these plans were practicable for our friends while their was in transitu for San Francisco, and when we say that they all felt uneasy, we but feebly express their feelings.
 
“I tell you if it was know’d what a load we’s takin’ frough de mountains, dere’d be some fo’ks dat would rather like to git ’quainted wid us,” remarked Jim, as they through the wild country.
 
“Yes; we may meet with strangers, and if so, we must be very careful that they don’t suspect we have so much gold with us.”
 
“Yes; I’s been tinkin’ dat I orter caution you an’ Ned ’bout keepin’ a close mouf when strangers am ’bout.”
 
“You needn’t be afraid of me,” replied Edwin. “If any one reveals it, I am sure it will be you.”
 
The third night after leaving the Island, they encamped in a rocky , close by a small running stream, where immense precipitous walls rose on either hand, and at mid-day a gloom rested upon the ground and stream. Fine, tender green grass was growing in ; and, the animals within ear-shot, the gold was removed with the saddles, and placed close to the camp-fire, where it could always be seen by every member of the party. They had a fine plump bird shot during the latter part of the afternoon, which Jim took in hand, and soon had and over a small, brisk fire—“doing” it with a skill which would have the appetite of the most fastidious .
 
By the time this was disposed of, it was dark, and the three gathered more closely about the fire, for there was a in the air which made its warmth pleasant and grateful. Jim found in his pipe, while[89] the brothers chatted as usual. George lay with his head upon the saddles containing the gold, Edwin sat near him, while Jim was upon the opposite side the fire, half sitting and half reclining in his listlessness.
 
“Am dat a soft piller?” he asked of the older brother.
 
“I can’t say that it is,” was the reply, “but it would be pretty hard work to sleep with my head on anything else, so long as I know we had the gold with us.”
 
“I s’pose when folks have a big lot of gold they’re apt to think a good deal about. I never yet hefted dat ’ere pile. Jes’ luf me heft it.”
 
The African passed over to where the three saddles lay, and Inwood removed his head, picked them up and held them suspended for a few moments.
 
“I tell you gold am purty heavy——”
 
The next instant, the whole pile dropped from his hand, the nuggets giving an unmistakeable chink, for there before all stood a stranger, his appearance as sudden and unexpected as if he had risen from the very earth!
 
There was several bad things regarding the of this man. In the first place, he came at a moment when it was certain he had discovered that a large quantity of gold was in the possession of the little party. The words of the negro, and his sudden dropping of the riches, made it impossible that it should be otherwise.
 
And again, the stranger had an evil look. He was in the costume of a hunter, but his features, keen eyes, low forehead, flat nose, and cunning expression, were those of an from society—one whom it was exceedingly to encounter, where the arm of the law was powerless to protect or to strike terror.
 
“Good evening, friends,” was the salutation, before the party had time to recover from their surprise and indignation.
 
“Good evening,” returned Inwood, who could not be rude, even when under such great .
 
“Like to know what you want?” demanded Jim, as he seated himself upon the saddles, and looked at the new-comer.
 
 
“Me?” grinned the other, as he also seated himself as coolly as if he were an invited guest, “I can’t say that I want anything in particular. Happened to catch sight of your fire a little while ago, and I came down to see who you might be. Rather like your appearance.”
 
“We’re a company journeying alone,” said George Inwood, “and, wishing you good speed, you will let us say that we prefer to remain alone, and therefore ask you to pass on.”
 
This was rather a palpable hint, but there seemed no upon the part of the stranger to act upon it. He sat still a few moments, and then also produced a pipe, which he lit with an ember from the fire.
 
“My name is Muffins,” said he, “and, as I told you a few minutes ago, I’m a hunter in this neighborhood. It isn’t often that I see a white man, and when I do, I must stick to him and enjoy his society all I can. So, of course, I couldn’t think of leaving you just yet.”
 
It occurred to George Inwood that he had not only been , but had matters altogether in manifesting such a prompt anxiety to get rid of Muffins, and he now attempted an impossible thing, namely, to his mistake.
 
“Are you alone?” he inquired.
 
“Yes, sir; nobody goes with me. I live alone in these woods, except when I meet a friend, as I have met you to-night; but I never stay with them long, so you needn’t be anxious regarding me, ’cause I’ll leave you as soon as it is daylight.”
 
This was intended to be , but it was anything but that, and made Inwood more uneasy than ever. His great fear was that there were others close at hand, and the darkness, gloom and gave opportunity for treachery. He did not see how he could rid himself of his dangerous visitor; but Jim now up:
 
“See here, Mr. Buffin, I wants to ax you a question.”
 
“I am at your service, sir.”
 
“Did you ’serbe me when I dropped dese saddles?”
 
“I noticed that you let something fall as I came up, but[91] I didn’t pay any attention. It was no concern of mine, you know.”
 
“You didn’t tink—dat is, you don’t tink dere be any gold about dat?”
 
“Course not; why should I think so?”
 
“All right, Mr. , I doesn’t want you to tink so—jes’ ’member dat if you please.”
 
George Inwood was greatly irritated, but there was such an air of about what Jim said, that it was impossible not to be amused. When the African received the reply of Mr. Muffin, he seemed satisfied, and seated himself upon the saddles.
 
George saw that their visitor understood the precise condition of affairs, and there was no further use of attempting .
 
“I s’pose you’re miners?” remarked Mr. Muffin, by way of the conversation.
 
“Yes; we have spent several months among the mountains, part the time hunting and part the time mining.”
 
“What luck?”
 
“Quite good I may say; we have toiled long and hard, and have made pretty good wages—so much, that we have concluded to return home.”
 
“Live in California?”
 
“No; our home is in the Empire State, where I hope we shall shortly be.”
 
“Going to San Francisco?”
 
Inwood answered in the affirmative, and then concluded that it was about time he asked a few questions.
 
“Where are your friends?”
 
But Mr. Muffin was too sharp to be taken off his guard, and, with a meaning smile upon his evil , he said:
 
“The nearest I’ve got, I believe, are a couple of brothers in Sacramento City.”
 
“You hunt alone, do you?”
 
“I have done so for nigh onto five years—not quite that, howsumever.”
 
“That is a singular way of managing one’s affairs. A[92] man isn’t apt to act in that manner unless he has a strong for doing so.”
 
“What might be a chap’s ?” demanded the other, removing his pipe and glaring upon the speaker with an ugly look.
 
“Sometimes a man has a natural taste for solitude, but it more generally happens that he leaves society for society’s own good.”
 
“Do you mean to ’sinuate that that’s what I’ve done?”
 
“I don’t anything, because I know nothing about you; but I strongly suspect that you are some scamp who dare not return to the society of your people on account of the crimes you have committed against them.”
 
Mr. Muffin looked very angry, and Jim had strong hopes that he would say or attempt something bad, for he was eager to lay his hands upon him; but their visitor evidently concluded it unsafe to let his angry passions rise just then, and so he held his peace, and smoked his pipe harder than ever.
 
“When a man addresses me as I have addressed you,” said Inwood, “I quietly leave his company, and have nothing more to do with him.”
 
“Dat so,” added Jim, beginning to lose all patience at the of their visitor. “If you know what’s best for yourself you’ll c............