I. Ben’s Inheritance

II.  Deacon Pitkin’s Offer

III.  Sam Sturgis’ New Idea

IV.  A Brilliant Chance

V. In Search of a Place

VI.  Mr. Fitch, The Senior Partner

VII.  Ben’s Dinner Guest

VIII.  A Strange Acquaintance

IX.  At the Astor House

X. Ben Receives a Call

XI.  Miss Sinclair’s Stratagem

XII.  In San Francisco

XIII.  Preliminary Arrangements

XIV.  The Canon Hotel

XV.  A Polite Hostess

XVI.  A New Acquaintance

XVII.  A Tight Place

XVIII.  An Evening Call

XIX.  Ben’s Midnight Excursion

XX.  A Thief’s Disappointment

XXI.  Ben’s Savings-Bank

XXII.  The Arrival at Murphy’s

XXIII.  Among the Sierras

XXIV.  Beaten at His Own Game

XXV.  The Horse-Thieves

XXVI.  What Next?

XXVII Ki Sing

XXVIII.  The Duel of the Miners

XXIX.  Chinese Cheap Labor

XXX.  A Midnight Visit

XXXI.  On the Mountain Path

XXXII.  The Mountain Cabin

THE YOUNG EXPLORER

CHAPTER I.

Ben’s inheritance.

“I’ve settled up your father’s estate, Benjamin,” said Job Stanton.  “You’ll find it all figgered out on this piece of paper.  There was that two-acre piece up at Rockville brought seventy-five dollars, the medder fetched a hundred and fifty, the two cows—­”

“How much does it all come to, Uncle Job?” interrupted Ben, who was impatient of details.

“Hadn’t you better let me read off the items, nephew?” asked Job, looking over his spectacles.

“No, Uncle Job.  I know you’ve done your best for me, and there’s no need of your going through it all.  How much is there left after all expenses are paid?”

“That’s what I was a-comin’ to, Ben.  I make it out that there’s three hundred and sixty-five dollars and nineteen cents.  That’s a dollar for every day in the year.  It’s a good deal of money, Ben.”

“So it is, Uncle Job,” answered Ben, and he was quite sincere.  There are not many boys of sixteen to whom this would not seem a large sum.

“You’re rich; that is, for a boy,” added Uncle Job.

“It’s more than I expected, uncle.  I want you to take fifteen dollars and nineteen cents.  That’ll leave me just three hundred and fifty.”

“Why should I take any of your money, nephew?”

“You’ve had considerable trouble in settling up the estate, and it’s taken a good deal of your time, too.”

“My time ain’t of much vally, and as to the trouble, it’s a pity ef I can’t take some trouble for my brother’s son.  No, Ben, I won’t take a cent.  You’ll need it all.”