The Crusade of the Excelsior by Bret Harte begins with a young man, Banks, on a ship to San Francisco to conduct some business. Harte writes thrillingly of his adventure aboard the ship with Miss Keene and Senor Perkins. Excerpt: "The young girl glanced over the vast expanse before her with sparkling eyes and a suddenly awakened fancy that checked her embarrassed smile, and fixed her pretty, parted lips with wonder."