"Yes—that is, I would if I did; but I don't," muttered Jack, lugubriously. "Well, go on, anyhow."
"You know what we are going to California after?"
"Sure! After gold; the shining dust—the great blazing nuggets, big as a water-bucket. Those are what we're after of course."
"You'd know it when you found one, I suppose, Jack?" and Duplin smiled slightly.
"Bah! any fool knows gold."
"Well, I do. But, as I was about to say, I don't think there is any need of our going clear to California for what we can get closer."
"What—Duplin, what do you mean?" demanded Wythe, gazing keenly into his comrade's face.
"No, Burr; I'm an honest man, if not a good one. You need not fear any thing of that sort. But I'll tell you all now, on one condition. Promise me faithfully that neither one of you will ever breathe a word of my secret until after one year has passed. This, I mean, provided you refuse to accept my proposal, for if you do accept it, I know you'll keep silent. How is it—do you agree?"
"I reckon we can, Burr?"
"Yes; though I have not known you long, Duplin, I believe that you are an honest man. Then I promise you, on my honor as a man, that I will never, by word, sign nor hint, reveal what you confide to me as a secret."