The third night after leaving the Enchanted Island, they encamped in a rocky gorge, close by a small running stream, where immense precipitous walls rose on either hand, and at mid-day a twilight gloom rested upon the ground and stream. Fine, tender green grass was growing in profusion; and, picketing the animals within ear-shot, the gold was removed with the saddles, and placed close to the camp-fire, where it could always be seen by every member of the party. They had a fine plump bird shot during the latter part of the afternoon, which Jim took in hand, and soon had sputtering and broiling over a small, brisk fire—“doing” it with a skill which would have tempted the appetite of the most fastidious epicure.
By the time this was disposed of, it was entirely dark, and the three gathered more closely about the fire, for there was a chilliness in the air which made its warmth pleasant and grateful. Jim found solace in his inevitable pipe, while the brothers chatted as usual. George lay with his head upon the saddles containing the gold, Edwin sat near him, while Jim was upon the opposite side the fire, half sitting and half reclining in his listlessness.
“Am dat a soft piller?” he asked of the older brother.
“I can’t say that it is,” was the reply, “but it would be pretty hard work to sleep with my head on anything else, so long as I know we had the gold with us.”
“I s’pose when folks have a big lot of gold they’re apt to think a good deal about. I never yet hefted dat ’ere pile. Jes’ luf me heft it.”
The African passed over to where the three saddles lay, and Inwood removed his head, picked them up and held them suspended for a few moments.
“I tell you gold am purty heavy——”
The next instant, the whole pile dropped from his hand, the nuggets giving forth an unmistakeable chink, for there before all stood a stranger, his appearance as sudden and unexpected as if he had risen from the very earth!
There was several bad things regarding the advent of this man. In the first place, he came at a moment when it was certain he had discovered that a large quantity of gold was in the possession of the little party. The words of the negro, and his sudden dropping of the riches, made it impossible that it should be otherwise.
And again, the stranger had an evil look. He was in the costume of a hunter, but his scowling features, keen eyes, low forehead, flat nose, and cunning expression, were those of an outlaw from society—one whom it was exceedingly perilous to encounter, where the arm of the law was powerless to protect or to strike terror.