Chapter I: A Narrow Escape 9

II. WALTER TELLS HIS STORY 18
III. AND CHARLEY TELLS HIS 30
IV. WHAT HAPPENED ON BOARD THE "ARGONAUT" 37
V. ONE WAY OF GOING TO CALIFORNIA 45
VI. A BLACK SHEEP IN THE FOLD 66
VII. THE FLIGHT 82
VIII. OUTWARD BOUND 100
IX. ACROSS NICARAGUA 117
X. THE LUCK OF YANKEE JIM 141
XI. SEEING THE SIGHTS IN 'FRISCO 154
XII. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 165
XIII. IN WHICH A MAN BREAKS INTO HIS OWN
STORE, AND STEALS HIS OWN SAFE 182
XIV. CHARLEY AND WALTER GO A-GUNNING 203
XV. THE YOUNG VIGILANTES 215
XVI. RAMON FINDS HIS MATCH 231
XVII. A SHARP RISE IN LUMBER 241
XVIII. A CORNER IN LUMBER 250
XIX. HEARTS OF GOLD 262
XX. BRIGHT, SEABURY & COMPANY 274

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

Walter and Bill tramping across the Isthmus
(_Frontispiece._) 132
Walter rescuing Dora Bright 42
Waiting for the opening of the mail 160
The hunters hunted by a grizzly bear 208
Ramon made to give up his stealings 236
Arrival of the _Southern Cross_ at Sacramento 254

THE YOUNG VIGILANTES