In the darkness the men did not notice that the cut was a fresh one. They began to dig. Silently the work went on until a large hole had been excavated.
“Where’s the money?” Ezekiel demanded. “Danny, if ye’r pullin’ a fast one—”
“I tell you I buried it under a post!” the other insisted. “Thought it was farther down the fence, but this one was marked.”
Ezekiel flashed his lantern full on the post which now had been tilted far over on its side.
“The post’s marked,” he confirmed. “Fresh new slashes.”
“Let’s see!” Danny exclaimed. He examined the marking briefly and straightened up. “I never made those cuts! Someone’s tricked me!”
Excited by the discovery, the men now moved from post to post. Other slashes were found.
“Here’s the one with my mark!” Danny cried, pointing to a post close to where Penny lay hidden. “Who slashed these others? Someone must have learned where I buried the money!”
“It does look kinda bad,” said Ezekiel. “But there hain’t been no diggin’ by this post. Git busy, boys!”
Taking turns, Coon and Hod fell to with the spade. Soon they had uncovered three large tin cans filled with bank notes.