But the prize was worth fighting for, and the three men were ready and willing to risk their lives for the purpose of securing what they had labored so hard for during the many long years of the past.
Teddy proposed that they should visit the cave during the night, when there was little fear of their being molested, but the other two were reluctant to make the attempt in the dark.
The Irishman still urged his point with a vehemence that bid fair to carry the day, when a noise at the entrance silenced every tongue.
“Hello in there! can you give a traveler lodging for the night?”
The voice was recognized as that of Fred Hammond, and all three instantly sprung to their feet and hurried to the entrance to admit him. He was regarded with strong friendship by all, from the unmistakable good will he had manifested toward them from the beginning.
A few minutes later he joined them round the camp-fire, and seemed in the best of spirits. Teddy had placed his nuggets, with no little precipitation, out of sight when Hammond’s voice was first heard, so that he saw nothing of the real cause of their conversation.
Scarcely ten minutes had elapsed, when it was palpable to each of the three trappers that Hammond had been drawn to their retreat by some extraordinary reason, which would be speedily made known.
Hammond was so well-bred, and so thoroughly self-possessed, that he made an easy master of what would have been almost insuperable to another, and gracefully and in good terms he came to the point.
“Friends,” said he, looking round in their faces with a smile, “you are hunters and trappers by profession, but you came here in search of gold—”
“And found it,” interrupted Black Tom.