A FORTUNE IN NUGGETS
Mark continued to look at the nugget with great interest. It was the
largest find made in that territory and his joy knew no bounds.
"Perhaps there are more of them," he told himself. "If so, our fortunes
are made."
At last he placed the nugget on one side of the cavern and felt down
in the hole for what was left of the candle. It was only a tiny mite,
and before he could do more than take a second look at the hole it went
out, leaving nothing but a patch of grease behind.
"Never mind, we can come up to-morrow and investigate," said Mark to
himself. "But I'd better take that nugget with me."
He walked outside once more and placed the nugget near a fallen tree.
Then he set up a stick at one side of the opening and another stick on
the opposite side, that he might mark the locality. This done, he took
a good look around, to fix "the lay of the land" in his head.
"I mustn't lose this spot as Jacobs lost his mine," he told himself.
He referred to a Jew named Moses Jacobs, who told a story of finding a
wonderfully rich mine and then losing it. This mine was relocated some
years later and proved to be of good value, but poor Jacobs never got
anything out of it.
As Mark's gaze swept the horizon he started, for up on the
mountain-side he discerned two men, both looking down upon him. They
were the two rascally Mexicans, he felt sure, for each wore the
bright-colored cloak and the wide-brimmed, sharp-pointed hat which Si
and Maybe Dixon had described.
The boy was startled and looked eagerly at the nugget of gold, which
was hidden by the tree limbs. Had the Mexicans seen him handling that
precious bit of metal? If so, would they try to rob him of it?
The cold perspiration stood out on Mark's forehead. He felt in his belt
and satisfied himself that his pistol was there, ready for use.
"They shan't rob me of it--I'll fight first!" he told himself, and set
his teeth hard. Then he began to climb out of the gully, supporting the
precious nugget under his shirt, next to his belt.
To his alarm the Mexicans walked toward him and one of them called out
something in Spanish which he did not understand. He shook his head
and continued to walk on, getting as far from them as possible. But
they continued to come after him.
There was a patch of timber a few rods away, and toward this went Mark,
leaving the regular trail and taking to a smaller one made by mountain
deer.
As soon as he gained the timber he broke into a run, and kept this up
until he was all but exhausted. Then he came out at a spot directly
above the camp and shouted loudly to Bob and Si, who chanced to be
working within hearing distance.
"What's up, Mark?" yelled back Bob.
"I want help. Come up, and call Maybe Dixon."
The old miner was not far away, and soon the two boys and the man
climbed up to where Mark sat on a rock, panting heavily.
"What's the trouble?" asked Maybe Dixon. "Wild animals or Injuns?"
"Those two Mexicans!" gasped the exhausted youth. "They were after me!
I think they wanted to rob me!"
"The skunks!" roared the old miner. "Where are they now?"
"I don't know."
"Did you have much with you?" questioned Bob.
"Take me to the tent and I'll show you what I have."
"Make a find?" queried Si, eagerly.
"Yes."
The three others helped Mark down the mountain-side and into the tent.
Tillie had gone to her father's camp, so the partners were alone.
"What do you think of this?" asked Mark, as he drew forth the big
nugget with much pride.
"Phew!" whistled Bob.
"What a whopper!" came from Si.
"The best yet--by a good deal," murmured Maybe Dixon, his eyes
glistening.
"I reckon it is worth at least five thousand dollars," said Mark, in a
low voice.
"Every bit of it, lad, and most likely six or seven," answered the old
miner. "Where did you get it?"
Sitting close to his friends, so that nobody outside might hear, Mark
told his tale, to which the others listened with breathless interest.
When he mentioned the cave Bob's eyes opened widely.
"Maybe it is filled with nuggets," said he.
"Maybe," put in Maybe Dixon, quickly. "Anyway, we ought to stake a
claim."
"Exactly what I think--and the sooner the better," came from Si. "If
we don't, those greasers may get some friends to step in for them and
do the trick."
"Those rascals won't dare to show themselves," said Maybe Dixon. "But,
as Si says, they may get somebody else to stake a claim for a share of
the findings."
"I move we stake a claim this very night," said Bob. "There is no use
of waiting."
His opinion was the opinion of all. The question was, Could Mark find
the spot in the dark, and was he strong enough to make the journey?
"I think I can make it if you go slow," said the youth. "But about
finding the place, that is another question. I can't, if it is too
dark."
"But we can get close to it," said Bob, "and then stake a claim as soon
as it gets light enough."
An hour later they were ready to leave. The nugget was hidden in a
hollow behind some bushes, they not wishing to take the time to bury
it, and tying up the tent they set off. They carried with them a pick,
shovel, and washing pan, besides candles, a lantern, matches, and some
few provisions. Each went armed, with the weapons ready for immediate
use.
The way was a long one to Mark, and the others had frequently to aid
him up the rocks and across dangerous pitfalls. Once Si was in danger
of going over a cliff, but Bob and Maybe Dixon caught him in the nick
of time.
"Gosh!" spluttered the former farm lad. "Guess that was a narrow shave
for me!"
"Be careful," warned the old miner. "We don't want to lose a life for
all the nuggets in these mountains."
Unfortunately, it was dark and there were some signs of a coming storm.
They kept on steadily for about an hour, when Mark called a halt.
"It's no use," he said. "I can't see the way. We'll have to camp
somewhere until morning."
They found a small shelter under some overhanging rocks and there
proceeded to make themselves as comfortable as circumstances permitted.
They cut down some small pines and used the boughs as bedding and made
a campfire of the trunks. Mark was glad enough to lie down and was soon
in the land of dreams, and one after another the others followed his
example.
When they awoke in the morning, there was a heavy mist on the mountain,
so that they could not see a hundred feet in any direction.
"This is the worst yet," grumbled Bob. He was wild with excitement
to reach the cavern and explore it thoroughly. The others were in a
similar condition of mind. For all they knew there might be more big
nuggets there awaiting them.
They had to remain where they were until about eleven o'clock. Then a
slight wind sprang up and the mist was driven away as if by magic. By
noon the sun was out as strong as ever.
Mark took a careful survey of the mountain and then located the spot
where the cavern was, and all set out once more. They had to walk
around two deep gullies and climb some extra-slippery rocks, but at
last reached the landslide.
"There are my sticks and there is the cavern," said Mark.
"Hurrah!" shouted Bob, enthusiastically. "Now for more big nuggets!"
"Don't be too sure," warned Maybe Dixon. "Maybe there ain't another
nugget near the spot."
"Oh, there must be!" cried Si. "It's just the place for 'em!"
They got down the landslide in short order and hurried to the cavern.
Then the lantern was lit, and also two candles, and they walked inside.
A brief glance around showed Mark that everything was as he had left
it. Without delay, Maybe Dixon sank his pick deep in the ground and his
shovel followed.
"In the name of us four partners I stake this claim!" he cried. "Now
let them greasers or their friends come on if they dare!"
"But we must set out regular stakes, if the spot is any good," said Bob.
"Right you are, lad, but we'll take a look around first."
Si was already at work and the others soon followed. They scooped a
large quantity of sand from the hole at the back of the cavern and then
dislodged several small rocks.
"Look! look!" cried Bob, presently, and brought up a nugget half the
size of the one found by Mark. "There's a couple of thousand dollars
for you!"
"And here is another!" came from Si, bringing up a lump equally large.
"And two more," added Maybe Dixon, holding them up. "Boys, this is the
banner find of this district!"
"We'll be rich!" cried Mark. "We'll be rich! Oh, but ain't I glad!"
They continued to dig and scrape away in feverish haste and soon
brought to light half a dozen small nuggets. Then they reached another
pocket, filled with sand and coarse gold grains.
"The richest kind of washing," said Maybe Dixon.
"Oh, we can't stop to wash now!" cried Si. "Let us look for nuggets!"
And they continued to labor, harder than ever.
By nightfall they were completely exhausted, but supremely happy. They
had unearthed twenty-four nuggets of various sizes and shapes. Maybe
Dixon surveyed each with care and counted up the probable value.
"I can't strike it very close," said he. "Fer we don't know the quality
of 'em. But I should say we had all of thirty thousand dollars' worth
o' gold here. And more'n likely that sand will pan out ten thousand
dollars' worth more."
"Forty thousand dollars!" gasped Si. "We'll surely be rich now! Oh,
what will my folks say when they hear of this!"