Obed felt that this was a good time to sell the claim.
"Boys," he said, "we struck it rich and no mistake. How rich I don'tknow. There may be other nuggets where this came from. But I and mypartners want to go back to America. The claim's for sale. Who wantsit?"
CHAPTER XXIX.
SELLING THE CLAIM.
"Let's adjourn to the mine," said Tom Lewis, a short, sturdyEnglishman.
"Yes, let's see the place where the nugget was found," echoed another.
"All right! I'm agreeable," said Obed.
Followed by a crowd of miners, Obed Stackpole strode to the claim wherehe had "struck it rich." In spite of his homely face and ungainly formthere was more than one who would have been willing to stand in hisshoes, homeliness and all. The day before little notice was taken ofhim. Now he was a man who had won fame at a bound.
They soon stood around the lucky claim.
"It isn't much to look at, gentlemen," said Obed, "but looks isdeceptive, as my old grandmother used to tell me. 'Handsome is ashandsome does,' and this 'ere hole's done the handsome thing for me andmy partners, and I venture to say it hasn't got through doin' handsomethings. It's made three of us rich, and it's ready to make somebody elserich. Who'll be the lucky man? Do I hear a bid!"
"Fifty pounds," said Tom Lewis.
"That'll do to start on, but it won't do to take. Fifty pounds I amoffered. Who says a hundred?"
A German miner offered a hundred, and Tom Lewis raised ten pounds.
A Scotch miner, Aleck Graham, offered a hundred and twenty-five.
From that time the bids rose slowly. Obed showed himself an excellentauctioneer--indeed he had had some experience at home--and by his dryand droll remarks stimulated the bidding when it became dull, and didnot declare the claim sold till it was clear no higher bid could beobtained.
"Three hundred pounds, and sold to Frank Scott," he concluded. "Mr.Scott, I congratulate you. I calculate you've made a pretty goodinvestment, and I shouldn't wonder if you'd find another nugget within aweek. 'Birds of a feather flock together,' as my writing-book says, and'it never rains but it pours.'"
Frank Scott came forward and made arrangements for the payment of thesum he had offered. Within five minutes he was offered an advance oftwenty-five pounds for his bargain, which put him in good humor, thoughhe declined it. I may as well say here, since we are soon to bidfarewell to Bendigo, that the claim yielded him double the amount of hisinvestment, and though this was not up to his expectations, he had noreason to regret his purchase.
The little crowd of miners were just separating when two new-comersappeared on the scene. They were the well-matched pair who had metearlier in the morning at the deserted cabin. For convenience' sake wewill call them Colson and Ropes, the former being the man who had stolenthe nugget, as he supposed.
"What's all this crowd?" said Colson in a tone of curiosity.
Ropes put the question to Tom Lewis, who chanced to be passing.
"Haven't you heard about the nugget?" asked Lewis.
"What nugget?" asked Colson innocently.
"That slab-sided Yankee, Obed Stackpole, found a nugget last night--aregular monster--and he's been selling his claim. I bid for it, but Ididn't bid high enough."
"Where's the nugget?" asked Colson eagerly.
"In charge of the commissioner, who will send it under escort toMelbourne."
Colson expected this intelligence. Still he looked downcast. The chanceof getting hold of it under such circumstances seemed very small.
"What did the claim go for?" questioned Ropes.
"Three hundred pounds. Frank Scott bought it."
"That's a pretty steep price."
"Yes, but there may be another nugget."
"And there may not."
"Then he'll be a loser. Of course there's a risk."
"Is the Yankee going to stay around here?" asked Colson.
"No; he and the two boys are going to Melbourne. I believe they aregoing back to America."
"It's a shame that such a prize should go to Americans," said Colson, ina discontented tone.
He would have been very glad to head a movement for robbing Obed and theboys of the proceeds of their lucky discovery, on this flimsy ground.But Tom Lewis was a fair-minded man.
"I don't see what that has to do with it," said he. "They found it, andthey have a right to it. Of course, I'd rather it had been me; but itwasn't, and there's an end of it."
"Some people are born lucky!" grumbled Colson, as Lewis walked away. "Inever had any luck."
"The nugget you found wasn't quite so valuable," returned Ropes grimly.
"No; I tugged away for nothing. My arms and shoulders are stiff enoughthis morning. And now the nugget is out of our reach."
"But not the three hundred pounds," said Ropes significantly.
"The price of the claim?"
"Yes."
"That's true, but it won't do us any good."
"The Yankee will carry that with him. It's worth trying for."
The suggestion seemed to strike Colson favorably. The two held awhispered consultation, which seemed to yield mutual satisfaction. Theywere, indeed, congenial spirits, and agreed upon one point, that it wasbetter to make a living by knavery than by doing honest work for honestwages. Yet there is no harder or more unsatisfactory way of living thanthis. Ill-gotten gains seldom benefit the possessor, and the plans ofwicked men often fail altogether.
Gradually the two had drawn near to the claim, and at last drew theattention of Obed and the boys.
Obed's thin face lighted up with satisfaction as he recognized the manwho had attempted to steal the nugget.
"Good-mornin', squire," he said politely. "You look kind of tired, as ifyou was up late last night."
Colson eyed him sharply. "Does he suspect?" thought he. "Yes," heanswered, in an indifferent tone, "I didn't rest very well."
"Where did you pass the night?"
"'Round here," he answered vaguely.
"You look as if you had been taking a long walk."
"You are very observing," said Colson, not over pleased.
"I always was. It pays a man--sometimes."
"I hear you've struck it rich," said Colson, not caring to take noticeof the other's significant tone.
"Found a nugget, they tell me," interpolated Ropes. "How big was it?"
"Weighs about seventy-five pounds!"
"That is luck!" said Colson, with a sickly smile. He could scarcely helpgroaning as he thought of his loss.
"Well, yes, it is tolerable hefty. I reckon me and the boys will be ableto take it easy for a few years. But we came near losin' it, afterall."
"How's that?" Colson asked, but he did not venture to meet Obed'sglance.
"Some skunk saw us bringin' back the nugget, and prowled round till hethought we was all asleep. Then he got into the cabin and carried itoff. That is, he thought he did, but we was a little too sharp for him.We tied up a big rock in my handkerchief, and I guess he had a sweettime carryin' it off."
"Ha, ha! A good joke!" said Colson, but his laughter was mirthless.
"I thought you'd enjoy the joke, squire," said Obed. "How I pity thepoor fellow! His arms must ache with luggin' the old rock. The best ofit is we know the fellow that took it."
"You do?" ejaculated Colson, his jaw dropping.
"Yes, Harry woke up just in the nick of time and saw him scootin' out ofthe cabin. If I should tell the boys 'round here, I reckon they'd lynchhim!" added Obed quietly.
"Just so," assented Colson, but his face was of a sickly hue, and takingRopes by the arm he hurried him away.
"That fellow's well scared," said Obed, turning to his two youngcompanions. "I reckon he'll make himself scarce till we're out of theway."
CHAPTER XXX.
THE TWO CONSPIRATORS.
Obed and the boys made arrangements to travel with the party sent by thecommissioner as an escort to the nugget and other sums intrusted to itby different miners. The strong gua
rd gave them a sense of securitywhich they would not have had under other circumstances.
They were all in high spirits. They were no longer pennilessadventurers, but, though not rich, were possessed of enough gold to makethem feel so. Now that they were well fixed they were all filled with astrong desire to see their home across the sea.
"I suppose, Obed, you'll be getting married soon after you reach home?"said Harry.
"The very first thing I shall do will be to pay off the mortgage ondad's farm," said Mr. Stackpole. "I want to see him a free man, with ahome that can't be taken from him. Then I'll look after the othermatter."
"You are right, Obed. I only wish I had a father to help and care for,"said Harry soberly.
"I've got a step-father," said Jack, "but I don't feel much like helpinghim."
"You have a mother, Jack."
"Yes, but I shall have to be careful about giving her money, for herhusband would get it away from her before long."
"Well, boys, we won't borrow trouble before the time comes. For all Iknow Suke Stanwood may have got tired of waitin' for me, and marriedsome other feller."
"In that case, Obed, I suppose you would die of a broken heart."
"Not much, but I don't mind sayin' that I should feel uncommon blue."
Two days elapsed before Obed and his party started on their return trip.Meanwhile Colson and Ropes had disappeared. The boys had expected to seethem about the camp, but they had vanished.
"I wonder what has become of them?" said Harry, just as they werestarting.
"I reckon they're hatchin' some new mischief, wherever they are,"returned Obed composedly. "You maybe sure they're not engaged in anyhonest work."
"Perhaps Colson is trying to sell his nugget," suggested Jack with asmile.
"He's welcome to all he can get for it," said Obed.
Obed was very near the truth in his conjecture. Their greed was excitedby thoughts of the nugget which our three friends had discovered, andtheir brains were busied with plans for obtaining possession of it. Thechances didn't seem very encouraging. It was under strong escort, and itwould be sheer madness for the two to attack an armed party. It wouldrequire a much larger force than they could command to make an attack atall practicable.
With no special plans, but with the hope that something would turn up intheir favor, the two men started for Melbourne in advance of thegovernment party. They were indebted for the requisite funds to asuccessful theft by Colson, who was an expert in his line. It isunnecessary to chronicle their daily progress. We will look in upon themon the fourth day.
They were making toilsome progress, over the boggy road, when all atonce they were confronted by three bushrangers headed by Fletcher.
"Surrender, or you are dead men!" exclaimed Fletcher, with a boldnesswhich will be easily understood when it is considered that his forceoutnumbered the travellers two to one.
Neither Colson nor Ropes appeared to be frightened. Indeed, they werelooking for such an encounter.
"All right, gentlemen," said Ropes quietly. "We are quite ready tosurrender."
"Empty your pockets," was the next order.
"All right again!" said Ropes. "I am sorry to say we haven't much tosurrender."
"Is this all you have?" asked Fletcher, frowning when a pound and tenshillings were delivered to him as their united contributions to thebushrangers' fund.
"We haven't a penny more."
"Search them!" said Fletcher to his followers.
A search, however, failed to bring to light anything more.
"Why, you poor tramps!" exclaimed Fletcher in disgust. "You are unworthythe attention of gentlemen."
"Perhaps not, captain," answered Colson. "May I have a word with you inprivate?"
Not without suspicion Fletcher granted this unexpected request, andstepped aside with Colson a few paces, taking care, however, to keepnear enough to his party to insure his safety.
"Well, what have you to say?" he asked abruptly.
"I have no money to give you," replied Colson, "but I have informationthat will enable you to obtain a great deal."
"What is your object in telling me this?" demanded Fletcher, stillsuspiciously.
"The fact is, my friend and I want to join with you in the enterprise,and get a fair share of the booty."
"Do you wish to join our band, then?"
"Well, not permanently, but for a little while."
"Out with the information, then!"
"Will you agree to our terms?"
"What are they?"
"We want half of the prize."
"You are very modest," said Fletcher in a sarcastic tone. "How much willit amount to?"
"Not far from a hundred thousand dollars."
Fletcher pricked up his ears. This was indeed a prize worth trying for.
"Give particulars," he said.
"A big nugget is on the way to Melbourne, or will be in a day or two. Itwas found at Bendigo. I don't know how much it will net, but probablyseventy-five thousand dollars. Then there is a considerable amount ofdust besides."
"Who is to carry it? Is it in the hands of a private party?"
"No, it is under government escort."
Fletcher's countenance changed.
"That is a different matter," he said. "There is danger in attacking agovernment party."
"Think of the big sum at stake."
"It would require the co-operation of the whole band."
"Suppose it does."
"There will be more to divide it among. The captain would not agree fora moment to give away half."
"Say a third, then."
"I am not authorized to make any bargain. That will be for the captainto decide. You had better tell me all you know about it, and I will layit before the captain and secure you the best terms I can onconditions----"
"Well?"
"That you give me quarter of your share."
"That is unreasonable," said Colson, disappointed.
"Then go ahead and rob the government train yourself."
Colson saw that he was helpless, and must submit to any terms proposed.He accordingly signified his assent.
"Very well, then," said Fletcher, "you may come with us, and I willintroduce you to the captain. By the way, who found the nugget? You havenot told me that."
"A Yankee and two boys."
"What was the Yankee's name?" asked Fletcher eagerly.
"Stackpole--Obed Stackpole."
Fletcher whistled.
"I know the man," he said. "The boys are about sixteen--one a sailor?"
"Yes."
"I know them all, and I owe them all a grudge. There is nothing I shouldlike better than to take all they have and leave them penniless."
"I don't like them myself," said Colson, thinking this was the way tocurry favor with his new acquaintance.
"You know them also?"
"Yes; they have treated me meanly."
Colson probably referred to their substituting a common rock for therich nugget, and so subjecting him to mortification and disappointment.
Fletcher asked him a few more questions, and then with the newaccessions plunged into the woods, and led his party to the headquartersof the bushrangers.
CHAPTER XXXI.
TAKEN CAPTIVE.
The new recruits, on being introduced to the captain of the bushrangers,were subjected to a searching examination by the chief, a suspicionhaving arisen in his mind that the two were spies sent out by thegovernment to lure the outlaws into a trap. He was convinced after awhile that they were acting in good faith, and a conference was calledto decide what should be done in the matter. On this point opinionsdiffered. The nugget, of course, would be a valuable prize, but it wouldbe impossible to dispose of it in Melbourne, as the fact of itsdiscovery would have been published, and any person attempting to sellit would be instantly arrested. This view was held by Captain Ringhimself.
"That objection is easily met," said Fletcher.
"In what way?"
r /> "One of the band could be sent to America to dispose of it. He couldcarry it in his trunk as ordinary luggage."
"Perhaps you would like to undertake the commission," said CaptainRing.
"I should be very willing," said Fletcher eagerly.
"I don't doubt you would," returned the captain, in a sarcastic tone."Who would insure your making over the proceeds to us?"
"I hope you don't doubt my integrity," said Fletcher, with an air ofvirtuous indignation.
"Perhaps I had better say nothing on that subject, Fletcher. The bandare unwilling to subject you to the temptation--that's all. Many goodmen go wrong."
"You might send someone with me," suggested Fletcher, unwilling to giveup the tempting prospect.
"We haven't got the nugget yet," answered the captain dryly.
Colson and Ropes had listened with interest to the discussion. Theybegan to fear that nothing would be done. They would have been as muchopposed as anyone to trusting Fletcher, as he had not inspired them withconfidence. It takes a rogue to detect a rogue, and they alreadysuspected his true character. Their hope of revenge on Obed Stackpoleseemed slipping through their fingers.
"The Yankee and the two boys have a good deal of gold about them,"suggested Colson. "Of course it isn't much, compared with the nugget,but it is better than nothing."