CHAPTER VII.
GOLD!
“I b’lieve I’ll dig out of these parts,” said Black Tom, with a sigh, after he had heard the explanation of Fred Hammond.
“Why so?” quietly asked the latter.
“Things don’t look right to me; I don’t understand ’bout that speckled critter, nor ’bout the critter I’ve seen on the kenyon on horseback. I b’lieve she’s a sperit.”
“No; she’s as much flesh and blood as you are. I have spoken to her.”
“Have you axed her to dig out of these parts?”
“I have, more than once.”
“Why don’t she do it?”
“We’ll let the answer to that question remain in abeyance for the present,” was the graceful response of Hammond. “I think she will do so, but the time has not yet come for such an important step to be taken.”