We watched them as they walked to the spot which Steel Spring indicated—a distance of nearly a quarter of a mile from the clearing; and when the fellow announced that he was ready for the test, I slowly passed over such portions of the ground as I thought contained the money.
Three or four times did I pass over the ashes where the bodies of the dead bushrangers were burned, and yet I heard no indications from Steel Spring. At last I set my compass, and walked in an exact south-eastern direction, about ten paces from the location of the hut, and within a dozen feet of the hole which we had already dug.
"Stop," said the long-legged biped, "don't move for your life! Vait till I comes—you've hit it for a farding."
With springs which caused Rover to howl with jealousy, the fellow bounded over the bushes towards us, and in a minute's time was beside me.
"Give me the shovel!" he cried, in an excited manner. "I is certain that you is standing on the place."
"Here is a shovel," said Smith, with a wink of mischief at us; "let us see how soon you can bring the dust in sight."
"It won't take me long, I can tell you," replied Steel Spring, throwing out a few shovels full and then pausing to rest, as though a new thought had entered his long head.
"Dig away," yelled Smith, who was wielding a pickaxe with great effort.
"I was thinkin' how much better I could direct than work," said the cunning fellow, too lazy to dig.