“Oh, I couldn’t help it!” cried Mollie. “Who ever heard of such a thing?”
“Because they’re all too silly to see it,” cried Willie, hotly. “Why, any fool with common eyesight would know that there was gold in this sand and in those rocks!”
By-and-by Mollie grew serious, and listened.
“I’ll tell you what,” she said at last. “Why don’t you ask someone?”
“Ask someone?” said Willie, witheringly. “Who’s to ask?”
“Why, old Joe; he was years and years and years on the gold-fields when he was young.”
“So he was,” cried Eva.
“Oh, Mollie! was he?” cried Willie. “Oh, he ought to know!”
“Yes, let’s ask him,” cried Eva.
“Oh, let’s!” gasped Doris, “quick as ever we can. Let’s hurry home and ask him before he has his tea.”