“Stung!” cried one discouraged youth.
“Look!” cried Jerry, as he pointed to Noddy Nixon and Bill Berry, wheeling away a big barrow full of ballast, with Mr. Hitter racing wildly after them.
“Let him go,” advised the old gentleman. “He won’t come back after he has that assayed,” and he chuckled.
“I guess not,” agreed Mr. Nestor.
“I hope the sixty nuggets don’t turn out that way,” said Ned, in a low voice.
“Indeed they won’t!” exclaimed Mr. Brill. “I’m sorry I caused such a rumpus, but I didn’t mean to. I saw the gleam of gold as I got off the train, and it always excites me. But those sixty nuggets—they’re as real as heart could wish. Now if you boys want to hear the yarn, I’m ready to tell you, seeing that this excitement has petered out.”
“Indeed we do,” said Jerry, as he led the way out of the crowd.
“And we’ll help you recover the gold, too,” added Bob.
“Indeed we will,” came from Ned. “We were just wishing for some excitement.”