It was no wonder he asked what was up; for Percy, springing from the ground as suddenly as though he had just discovered that he was sitting on a nest of red ants, dived his hand into his trousers pocket, and then, holding it out, palm upwards, exclaimed, “What’s that?”
“Where did you get that?” cried Jack, full of excitement in a moment.
“I found it in a pot-hole in the bed of the creek, close to that curious rock in the horse-thieves’ hiding-place.”
“You did!”
Jack took the little nugget; looked it over and over; took out his pocket-knife and cut little nicks in it; and then, for several seconds, stood staring hard at nothing; while we stood silently by, staring hard at him.
Presently he heaved a big sigh, shut up the knife with a snap, and said quietly, but with much decisiveness:
“I’m going back.”
“Then so are we,” said Percy.
