CHAPTER IV.
AN EXCITING ENCOUNTER.
From their place of concealment the two boys watched attentively. They were rather mystified as to Mr. Winter’s intentions. It occurred to them, however, that he might have in his pocket some gold coins to add to the hoard underneath.
At any rate he began to dig, occasionally pausing to rest, for he was not very robust, and the labor of digging affected his back.
At last he reached the box, and getting down on his knees, pulled it out of the hole.
He raised the cover and began to count the contents. These contents consisted entirely of gold pieces.
In a low voice, which, however, was audible to the boys, he counted “Ninety-six, ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine.”
Then in an alarmed tone he added: “There’s one short. There ought to be a hundred, making five hundred dollars—can any one have found the box and taken one out? I’ll count again.”
Once more he counted, and this time he made full number, much to his relief.
Then from his vest-pocket he drew out two more gold pieces and added them to the pile.