“Why? Because I myself found the bag of gold dust of which the boy is in search, and I was one of the party who found his father and carried him from the gulch!”
This statement was listened to with unbounded amazement by his three listeners.
CHAPTER XLIII.
TOM COMES INTO A FORTUNE.
THERE was deep silence for more than a minute.
All eyes were turned upon him who had made so extraordinary a statement.
Then Tom asked in a subdued tone:
“Was my father dead?”
“No, but he was insensible from concussion of the brain.”
“How long did he live, Mr. Percival?”