"I will just probe a little to form some idea of the size of the nugget," answered Obed.
"Then you think it is a nugget?" asked Jack eagerly.
"Yes, I think our luck has come at last, boys. I think we will be able to pull up stakes and go back to America. But about keeping on now, we shall need to be cautious. Someone might come by, and see what we are about."
Then Harry made a suggestion.
"Let Jack go up to the top, and if anyone comes he can whistle. That will put us on our guard."
"A good idea!" said Obed.
So Jack threw himself on the ground in a listless posture, and the other two continued their explorations. They dug all about the boulder, which proved to be about a foot in diameter. It was embedded in clay, from which it was separated with some difficulty. It was encased in quartz, but the interior was bright, glittering gold.
"It's a regular beauty," said Obed in a low tone, his eyes glittering with excitement. "It isn't once in a dog's age that so big a nugget is discovered."
"How much do you call it worth, Obed?" asked Harry in the same low tone.
"That's hard tellin', Harry; but it's worth ten thousand dollars easy."