"That's one job done—and well done, too, I call it," and Upshur chuckled. "Now for the other. We alone are the owners of this famous golden bed that Duplin raved about. Come—I am in haste to know the extent of our fortune. Don't look so grum—you should laugh instead, man."
"I feel like a dog that's caught sheep-killin', or aig-suckin'," muttered Chicot. "We've mebbe rubbed out two settlers as is a durned sight better men than either o' us, in a cowardly way, too."
"Bah! I suppose you'll be too conscientious to touch any of the gold they've dug, won't you?" sneered Upshur.
"I don't know—if they be gone, why I s'pose I might as well hev some o' what they left, as for you to git it all."
"I thought so! But come—the sooner we finish this job, the better. There may be another outlet to the cave, and these fools may stumble upon it, and come back in time to make us trouble. But once let us get clutches on their pile, and I think we can hold it."
With hasty steps, the three men recrossed the little valley, and from the other ridge, carefully reconnoitered the deserted camp. No one appeared to be near it, and their hearts thrilled wildly as they realized that they were now sole masters of the golden secret. Even Chicot forgot his scruples, in the dream of fabulous wealth that filled his mind.
"It's ours—all ours, now!" muttered Upshur, as he darted down the rough hillside at reckless speed, slowly followed by his comrades.
In a few minutes more they stood within the rude brush shanty. Eagerly they gazed around, as though expecting to discover great heaps of the precious metal. Then Upshur laughed—harshly and discordantly.
"Bah! what fools! Of course they've hid it. But what one hides, another can find. They've changed the gold to another place—for there's where it has been."
All could see as much, but the gold was not there. Still, it must be hidden near at hand.