It was pitch dark now, but the light that streamed from the door of the cabin was bright enough to show him that there was no eavesdropper in sight.
Why didn't he think to go around the corner and look behind the chimney?
"They have made us rich, mother," continued Joe, stepping to Mrs. Morgan's side, and speaking in low but distinct tones. "I made three thousand three hundred dollars this morning by doing less than two hours' work. Hold on till I get through. I know you are astonished, and so am I; but it's all true. Sit down, for I've a long story to tell."
The young game-warden, who stood in constant fear of interruption, talked rapidly, but he went into all the details, and, by the time he got through, his mother knew as much about it as he did himself; but she said she was afraid it was too good to be true.
"No, it isn't," exclaimed Joe. "When Tom told our story to Mr. Hallet's hired man, he declared that we had been asleep and dreamed it all. But it isn't reasonable to suppose that we could all dream the same thing, is it? When other folks begin talking about it, you will find that it is true, every word of it. I wish there was some one here to hold me on the ground," cried Joe, jumping from his chair and swinging his arms around his head. "Mother, your hard days are all over, and I can go to school, can't I? I am going to study hard this winter, and whenever I get stumped, I'll ask Tom and Bob to help me out."
Having worked off a little of his surplus enthusiasm, Joe sat down again and talked coolly and sensibly with his mother regarding his prospects for the future.
So deeply interested did he become in what he was saying, that he did not hear the very slight rustling behind the cabin that was occasioned by his brother Dan, who withdrew his ear from the crack between the boards against which it had been closely pressed, and stole off into the darkness.
But Dan was there and heard it all; and he pounded his head with both his fists as he walked away.