“That’s stone-stain, Tom,” he said, then a loosened nugget fell to the floor of the cave. Jo picked it up and there was the yellow gleam of gold under the wavering light of the torches.
“There’s a whole nest of them,” cried Tom.
“I wonder where the goose is that laid them?” questioned Jo.
“I’m going to find a nest for myself,” said Juarez.
It was a most interesting search, and each of the boys made finds of their own. Jim discovered a square yard of nuggets, not close set, of course, but there must have been twenty of varying sizes, and Juarez made the biggest individual find of a nugget that was five inches tall and three thick. Every second the other boys expected to make a discovery that would discount Juarez.
After the first excitement was over, they settled down to systematic work. It was necessary to send someone back for the lanterns so that they could have steady light to work by; but who should go? That was the painful question. The work was so interesting that they all naturally wanted to stay on the job.
“Let Jeems go,” said the generous Tom. “It’s an old story to him anyway.” The good-natured Jeems would probably have allowed himself to be imposed upon, but Jim put his foot down upon Tom’s proposition.
“No you don’t,” he said. “We will draw lots to decide.” As luck or fate would have it, Tom got the shortest straw, or, rather, sliver of pine, and had to go after the lanterns. Tom was a picture of the heart bowed down when the decision went against him, and the boys laughed at his woe-begone face.
“Maybe you will be able to find an honest man with your lantern, Tom,” said Jim consolingly.
“I wouldn’t come to this gang,” he retorted bitterly, and to prove the sincerity of his belief, he took his little pile of nuggets to Jeems.