“They are the Gold Diggers of Taku Pass, lad.”
“The Gold Diggers of Taku Pass?” repeated Tad Butler. “I don’t think I ever heard that name before. Where is this pass, sir?”
The skipper shook his head.
“No one knows,” he said.
“That is strange,” wondered Butler. “Does no one know where they dig for gold?”
“No. They don’t even know themselves,” was the puzzling reply.
Tad fixed the weather-beaten face of the skipper with a questioning gaze.
“I don’t think I understand, sir.”
“I’ll tell you what I know about it some other time, lad. I haven’t the time to spin the yarn now. It’s a long one. I’ve been sailing up and down these waters, fair weather and foul, for a good many years, and I’ve seen a fair cargo of strange things in my time, but this Digger outfit is the most peculiar one I ever came across. They are a living example of what the lure of gold means when it gets into a man’s system. Gold is all right. I 13wish I had more of it; but, my boy, don’t ever let the love of it get to the windward of you if you hope to enjoy peace of mind afterwards,” concluded the skipper with emphasis.
“What’s that he says about gold?” interjected Stacy Brown, more commonly known to his companions as Chunky, the fat boy.