"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."