"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.