"No; I tugged away for nothing. My arms and shoulders are stiff enough this morning. And now the nugget is out of our reach."
"But not the three hundred pounds," said Ropes significantly.
"The price of the claim?"
"Yes."
"That's true, but it won't do us any good."
"The Yankee will carry that with him. It's worth trying for."
The suggestion seemed to strike Colson favorably. The two held a whispered consultation, which seemed to yield mutual satisfaction. They were, indeed, congenial spirits, and agreed upon one point, that it was better to make a living by knavery than by doing honest work for honest wages. Yet there is no harder or more unsatisfactory way of living than this. Ill-gotten gains seldom benefit the possessor, and the plans of wicked men often fail altogether.
Gradually the two had drawn near to the claim, and at last drew the attention of Obed and the boys.
Obed's thin face lighted up with satisfaction as he recognized the man who had attempted to steal the nugget.
"Good-mornin', squire," he said politely. "You look kind of tired, as if you was up late last night."