“Yes, but yeou knew about the treasure, I didn’t.”
“I don’t care. You can have a third anyway--and I’ll pay all expenses of this trip.”
“Thanks, Jack, yeou allers was a good feller.”
After that both boys worked away like Trojans for the best part of an hour. The gold was there and Plum flung up one piece after another, until the saddle bags on both ponies were overflowing.
“We’ve got a load!” cried Jack at last. “Any more down there?”
“Plenty,” was the answer.
“Well, let us take this to yonder hills and hide it. Then we can come back for more.”
“Why to the hills, Jack?”
“Because something tells me not to trust this spot too long, Plum. Remember the boiling lake.”
He assisted the Yankee lad to the top of the opening and then, mounted on their ponies, they made their way over the dry bottom of the lake to the rocky ridge beyond. Here they deposited the gold in a safe place, and then returned to the “island.”