CHAPTER XI.
“I doesn’t care ’tic’larly ’bout gittin’ ’quainted wid any spooks,” muttered Jim Tubbs, after bidding good-bye to George Inwood, as the latter started on his reconnoisance of the Enchanted Island.
“Dat ’ere George was always a fearsome boy eber since he was a little codger, dat used to ride de hosses at home in ole New York—nebber could make him b’lebe any stories about ghosts, an’ hobblegoblins, an’ spooks. Beats all natur’ how queer some folks be; I don’t care much for darkeys, whedder dey be red or black, while he does; but when spooks is around, I ’fers to be ’scused, while he don’t.”
Thus did the African commune with himself, as he made his way carefully from the lake and its phantom-like island. Not until he was far from it, did he pause, look around, and ask himself what was the best thing for him to do.
“I has de ’pinion dat when I ’grated to dese parts, I come arter gold, an’ dat’s what I’m going to hunt for at present. I sometimes tinks I orter be de ’prietor ob dis ’stablishment, as I ’wested de most money. Howsumeber, Mr. Tubbs, we’ll ’scuse de ’scussion ob dat question to some subsequent ’casion.”
Without suspecting it, the African took almost precisely the same direction as that followed by Edwin Inwood. As he was looking for gold, he went along the margin of a small stream, and began examining its banks and current for some signs of auriferous deposit.
“Dey say you’re the most aptest to find gold near de water, ’less you find it somewhere else—so I’ll take a peep. O!——”
Jim stopped, absolutely thunderstruck, for there in the water before him he saw a large piece of yellow metal, whose nature he divined at a glance. Plunging forward the next instant, he seized it in his hand, and held it up, and turned it over. It was a piece of pure gold, nearly the size of a hen’s egg. It lay imbedded in the sand, only a small portion displaying itself.
The dusky fellow could scarcely restrain his delight. He turned it over and over again, and danced about, and laughed, and almost cried. Finally he sobered down.
“Dat’s de best fish I ebber catched an’ I’ve fished a good deal. Shouldn’t wonder if dere’s some more ob ’em ’bout.”