"It became a curse to him. He obtained some thousands of dollars for it, and all went in three months."
"How did he get rid of it?"
"In drinking and gambling. Two months since he drifted back to the camp in rags. He did not have money enough to buy a claim, but being a good practical miner he got a chance to work a claim on shares for another man, who had just come out from Melbourne, and who knew very little of mining. I hope you will make better use of your money. Are these boys your partners?"
"Yes, Mr. Commissioner, they are equal partners. What's one's luck, is the luck of all."
Meanwhile the commissioner was weighing the nugget on a pair of scales. The three awaited the result with great interest.
"It weighs seventy-four pounds and four ounces," he announced. "My friend, it will be famous in the annals of Australia. If I am not mistaken, when it is known it will create a stampede to our mines."
"About how much do you think it will realize?" asked Obed.
"At a rough guess, I should say fifteen thousand dollars. It may be more and it may be less."
Obed Stackpole's rough face was fairly radiant.
"I say, boys," he remarked, turning to Harry and Jack, "that's a pretty good day's work, isn't it?"