The boy travellers in the Far East : adventures of two youths ... - Library

50 THE BOY TRAVELLERS.
THE GOLDEN GATE.
"AVhy do they call that the
Golden Gate?" Fred asked.
'',
"Because," was the reply, "it is, or was, the entrance to the land of
gold. It was so named after the discovery of gold in California, and until
the completion of the Overland Eailway it was the principal pathway to
the country where everybody expected to make a fortune."
"It IS very wide, and easy of navigation," the Doctor continued, "and
yet a stranger might not be aware of its existence, and might sail by it if
he did not know where to look for the harbor. A ship must get well in
towards the land before the Golden Gate is visible."
"How long shall we be on the voyage. Doctor*"
"If nothing happens," he answered, " we shall see the coast of Japan in
abou twenty days. We have five thousand utiles to go, and I understand
the ^steamer w:ll make two hundred and fifty miles a day in good weather "
VV 111 we stop anywhere on the way ?"
"There is not a stopping-place on the whole route. We are not vet
mrt of sight of the Golden Gate, and already we are steering for
Kmg,
Cape
at the entrance of Yeddo Bay. There's not even an island or a
solitary rock on our course."
to stcn '' F,?d' ' '"It' '''"' to stop, _bred I'emarked.
'" "'""' "'°" '''' ^^^^ -tended
"So you have," was the reply; "an island was discovered son.e years
ago, and was named Brook's Island, in honor of its discoverer. It was
bought a first tl.t the place might be convenient as a coaling station,
but It .s too far from the track of the steamers, and, besides, it has no
harbor where ships can anchor.
'