They pressed on more eagerly, the two boys in the lead, as they alone knew where the secret spot was.
"Here's the place!" cried Will at length.
"No, it isn't," declared Jed. "It's farther on."
"It's here," insisted Will. "Don't you remember this big rock? I said at the time that the nuggets were about five hundred feet from it."
"Which way?" asked Gabe quickly. "That's important to know."
"Right in line with that dead tree," answered Will. "I'll show you."
He walked confidently to the spot.
"Yes, that's it," spoke Jed, convinced that his brother was right.
Will began to dig, while the men gathered about him, with eager eyes watching him. It meant a lot to them, for some of them were down to their last dollar, and a rich strike would prove a fortune to them.
"Did we put 'em as deep as that?" asked Jed, when Will had removed considerable dirt and had not come upon any of the precious yellow nuggets.