"I don't think I should like that."

"No more would I if I'd got fifty dollars in my pocket. If I was you
I'd go into business."

"What kind of business?"

"Well," said Tom reflectively, "you might buy out an apple or a
peanut-stand, and have lots of money left."

"Is there much money to be made that way?" inquired Ben.

"Well, I never knowed anybody get rich in that line. I guess you'd
make a livin'."

"That wouldn't satisfy me, Tom. What I want most of all is to go to
California."

The bootblack whistled.

"That's off ever so far, isn't it?"

"Yes, it's a long way."

"How do you go?"

"There are three ways," answered Ben, who had made himself familiar
with the subject. "The first is to go by land-across the plains.
Then there is a line of steamers by way of Panama. The longest way
is by a sailing-vessel round Cape Horn."