“Didn’t I find the body?” said Joe.
“But burn me if you found the gold,” said Sneak.
“Shall I decide the matter?” interposed Roughgrove.
“I’m willing,” said Sneak.
“And so am I,” replied Joe.
“Then give it to me, and I’ll cut it in two, and give a half to each of you,” said Roughgrove.
The decision was final; and seizing the spades, Joe, Sneak, and the oarsmen began to prepare a resting-place for the dead body. Boone continued silent, with his eyes steadfastly gazing at the earth which the workmen began to throw up.
“Posin’s done ferrying now,” said Dan Rudder, one of the defunct’s old companions in the service of Roughgrove.
“No he ain’t,” said Sneak, throwing up a spadeful of flint stones.
“I’ll keep some of these for my musket,” said Joe.