I proclaim you Thomas Luck, according to the laws of the United States and the State of California, so help me God." It was the first time that the name of the Deity had been otherwise uttered than profanely in the camp.

The form of christening was perhaps even more ludicrous than the satirist had conceived; but strangely enough, nobody saw it and nobody laughed.
"Tommy" was christened as seriously as he would have been under a Christian roof and cried and was comforted in as orthodox fashion.
And so the work of regeneration began in Roaring Camp.

Almost imperceptibly a change came over the settlement.

The cabin assigned to "Tommy Luck"-- or "The Luck," as he was more frequently called--first showed signs of improvement.

It was kept scrupulously clean and whitewashed.