CHAPTER VII
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.