The Wedge of Gold

by C. C. Goodwin

  CHAPTER XXI.

  SHIPPING A QUARTZ MILL.

  That evening Major H. met Sedgwick in the office, and, with a twinkle ofthe eye, asked him if he was really anxious to take cheaper apartments.

  The young man smiled and said he rather thought, as he would probablyonly remain two or three months, it would not be worthwhile to change.

  Next morning Sedgwick ordered a forty-stamp gold quartz mill complete,with two rock-breakers, the batteries to be of five-stamp each and lowmortars, with a single pan for cleaning up--a free gold quartz mill.Instead of one heavy engine, he ordered two, each of forty-horse powerto work on the same shaft, to be supplied by six thirty-horse-powerboilers to be set in two batteries. He ordered also one six-inch and onefour-inch steam pump, with the necessary boilers, and besides, a donkeyhoisting engine, good for an eight-hundred hoist. The order includedall the needed attachments, belting, retorts, duplicates of all partssubject to breakage or wear, a forge, and shoes and dies enough to lasttwo years.

  He stipulated, too, that the wood-work of the battery should be gottenout, exactly framed and marked, and that all the pulleys, bolts, etc.,should be included.

  In two days the specifications were gotten ready, and the contractsigned, which included a clause that the whole should be ready in sixtydays, or less, from that date.

  Then Sedgwick wrote fully to Jordan, giving him the account of what hehad done, and sending him a draft of the ground plan of the mill, andfull details as to the grading, hoping he would receive the letter andhave the rocks hauled, the battery blocks gotten out, and the gradingdone.

  This work under way, the exultant man devoted all his time to Grace,except that every day, when in the city, he would make a run two or threetimes to the foundry to mark the progress of the work.

  Meanwhile, the happy pair visited every point of interest in and aboutSan Francisco. They frequented the theatres, drove to the Park and theCliff House, and both declared that San Francisco was the most delightfulspot on earth.

  They were all the world to each other. In the happiness that filled theirhearts their eyes were softened, so that everything they looked at tookon roseate hues--the world had become a throne to them, over which hadbeen drawn a cover of cloth of gold.

  Once they made a journey to Virginia City, and descended the Gould andCurry shaft, and Sedgwick showed his bride where he and Jack firstdiscussed the probability of trying to make a little raise in stocks.They went and looked at the lodging-house on the Divide where Jack andSedgwick roomed so long; visited the mills, saw crude bullion cast intobars, and watched the procession of a miner's funeral, and in theirrambles Sedgwick stopped many a miner whom he had known, and presentedhis bride.

  Returning, they got off at Sacramento and waited over one day. ThereSedgwick ordered four seven-ton wagons, with four trail wagons of fivetons each, and four more of three tons each, and twelve sets of teamharness, a dozen of yokes and no end of chains; also a strong, coveredspring wagon with harness to match.

  After forty days, Sedgwick was informed that everything would be ready inten days. His idea had been to charter a brig or bark, and send themachinery to Port Natal by a sailing craft; but in crossing the bay invisits to Oakland, Saucelito and San Rafael, he had noticed anchored, outin the stream, a small iron bark-rigged steamer which carried the Britishflag, and had read thereon the name "Pallas." One day he asked some menon the wharf what ship it was and why it lay so long in the harbor.

  The answer was that it was an English tramp steamer that some monthspreviously came in loaded with wines and brandies from Bordeaux.

  The men also gave the information that, though a tramp steamer, it wasthought to be a very strong craft, fully bulk-headed, with first-classmachinery, and was commanded by the owner, a Scotchman named McGregor,who, when not on his ship, stopped at the Occidental Hotel.

  Sedgwick had already made his acquaintance at the hotel, so when he methim that evening he asked him how long he expected to remain in the city.McGregor replied that he was waiting to secure a cargo for his ship.

  Then Sedgwick drew him out and learned that his steamer was of sixhundred tons, built with all care for a gentleman's yacht; that afterawhile the owner tired of his plaything and sold it to him at a mightydiscount on its first cost; and that he was seeing the world in it, andtrying at the same time to make the craft pay its own expenses. He saidalso he had a picked crew and private surgeon, and added: "When I securea cargo, if you and the madam will become my guests, I will adopt youboth as long as you please to follow the seas."

  Sedgwick declined with thanks, but said: "You want to see the world; howwould you like to make a run to the coast of Africa?"

  "I would not object," he replied. "I have had the 'Pallas' overhauledsince we came into port. She is in first-class trim, good for a year ifno unusual misfortune overtakes her. I would as soon go to Africa as anyother place."

  The result was the "Pallas" was chartered to carry out the machinery,some mill-wrights, a couple of engineers, a couple of mill workers, anassayer, and any miscellaneous freight that Sedgwick might desire tosend.

  The ship was hauled into the wharf next day, and the loading of what wasready was begun. Sedgwick got on board his wagons and trappings fromSacramento. He ordered also a great quantity of drill steel, picks andshovels, quicksilver, some giant powder and caps, some blankets,mattresses, canned fruits, pickles, boots and brogans, and a whole worldof other supplies such as miners use.

  In fifteen days the ship was loaded, and the craft put to sea, as wasunderstood and published, with a mixed cargo for Australia.

  Sedgwick had insured the cargo; had paid the owner in advance thefreight, and McGregor estimated that, if prosperous, he could, runningslow to save coal, and stopping a week or ten days in Australia for coaland fresh supplies, make Port Natal in eighty days.

  In the meantime Sedgwick and his wife had made the acquaintance of anEnglish gentleman and his wife, named Forbes, who a few days previous hadstarted for England, but who had promised to visit some English friendsin Indianapolis, Indiana, until Sedgwick and Grace should overtake them,that they might sail on the same ship from New York.

  The day after the "Pallas" sailed, Sedgwick and his bride took theoverland train for the East.