Stoneham’s hands were unshackled long enough to enable him to eat, but the sheriff guarded him closely. He was not going to have his captive escape if he could help it. Pender and Berry ate in dogged silence.
After supper, when the men had lighted their pipes, Nestor told the sheriff the story of the trip to the gold mine. The official was much interested.
“It’s a good thing you have the claim to your mine filed,” he said. “I understand there’s a great rush of diggers this way. They were at Eagleville yesterday, a town about twenty miles from here, and I expect they’ll be stragglin’ in here to-morrow. Whenever there’s news of a gold strike the miners are on the trail like a hound after a fox.”
The moon rose over the trees and made the glow of the camp-fire seem like a tallow candle beside an electric light. The forest was flooded with the radiance and it was almost as bright as day.
“I could almost go out and gather some specimens,” remarked Professor Snodgrass, who had said little since the exciting events of the afternoon.
“What do you want most?” asked the sheriff.
“I’d like to get—look out, there! Don’t move for the life of you! Wait until I get my net!” cried the professor, suddenly, staring at something close to the officer.
“What is it, a rattlesnake?” asked the sheriff, somewhat alarmed at the professor’s excitement.
“Don’t move! Don’t move!” was all the naturalist replied.
“Well, if it’s a snake you can bet your boots I won’t stir until you’ve got it,” answered the sheriff. “I seen a man bit by one once and he didn’t last half an hour. But say, my friend, don’t be any longer than you can help. It’s sort of a strain on my nerves, you know.”