Standing up to his armpits in dirt, Roy managed to get his other hand loose. The fist was closed.
“Here’s a souvenir,” he said, grinning. “Take a look!”
His hand opened. For a moment Nick and Gus stopped digging. Silent peered down from the surface.
In Roy’s hand lay a large, yellow-colored stone, studded with darker rock. Nick saw it, and gave a yell.
“A nugget!” he shouted. “A nugget, and a blame big one! Silent, have a look! Boy, you sure hit it!”
“I reckon,” Silent drawled, “that you have. From the looks of things, that there is worth about two hundred bucks.”
CHAPTER XIX
The Stranger
Forgotten now was the fate Roy had just escaped by the narrowest margin. Forgotten was the terrific labor that had been necessary to extricate him. Forgotten was everything except that piece of yellow-studded rock that lay on Roy’s palm.
“Pay dirt!” Nick gasped. “Pay dirt, by golly! Two hundred bucks—in one handful—”
“Nick, for Pete’s sake, if you’re going to lay down on the job, let’s have the shovel and I’ll dig myself out!” Roy said, grinning weakly. He was recovering rapidly from his unpleasant experience. “Think I want to sleep here?”