CHAPTER XXIV.
THE NUGGET IN DANGER.
The tramp, who has already been introduced to the reader, had spent theevening at the gambling house, having come into possession, during theday, of a small sum of money, given him by a compassionate miner. He hadrisked it, and for a time been successful, so that at the end of an hourhe might have left off with twenty pounds. But the fatal fascination ofthe game drew him on till all his winnings melted away, and he left thecabin at midnight without a penny in his pocket, so far as he knew.There was, however, a shilling which he had overlooked, and did notdiscover till he was already some distance away. He was tempted toreturn, and probably would have done so, had not his roving eyesdiscovered Obed and the two boys returning from their claim with thenugget.
"What are they up to," he asked himself in amazement, "that keeps themout of bed till after midnight? There's something up. I wonder what itis."
He had reason to be surprised. With the exception of those who, likehimself, spent the night in gambling (when he was in funds), no one inthe camp was awake or stirring. And of all, none kept more regular hoursthan Obed and the two boys.
Casting about for some explanation, the tramp's attention was drawn tothe burden that Obed carried.
"What can it be?" he asked himself wonderingly. Then, with a flash ofconviction, he said to himself: "A nugget! They've found a nugget assure as I'm a sinner!"
The tramp was intensely excited. His covetous soul was stirred to itsdepths. The opportunity he had been waiting for so long had come atlength. It meant fortune for him. Qualms of conscience aboutappropriating the property of another troubled him not at all. He meantto have the nugget, by fair means or foul.
The would-be thief understood well, however, that there would bedifficulties in the way of accomplishing his design. Obed and the twoboys were broad awake, and half an hour--perhaps an hour, must elapsebefore he could feel sure that they would be asleep. In the meantime itwould be best to keep away from the cabin, lest someone inside might seehim lurking near, and suspect his purpose.
While he is keeping watch from a distance, let us enter the cabin.
Obed and the boys are sitting on their rude pallets, congratulatingthemselves on having secured the nugget, and removed it from the mineunobserved. Harry had made a remark to that effect, when Obed Stackpoleresponded, "Do you know, boys, I feel sort of uneasy to-night."
"Why?" asked Jack.
"I'm afraid someone might have seen us on our way from the mine."
"I couldn't see anybody," Harry remarked.
"Nor I, but there may have been someone, nevertheless. The fact is, Inever expected to be uneasy on account of my wealth, but that's the waythe case stands just at present. When we were poor I slept like a top."
"I suppose you wouldn't care to get rid of your care by throwing thenugget away," Harry said with a smile.
"I'm not so uneasy as that yet, but I should feel a little safer if weand the nugget could be transported to Melbourne in five minutes."
"Suppose someone did see us?" queried Jack.
"Then we may expect a visit some time tonight."
"One of us might remain awake, Obed."
"That would be rather hard on us, for we are all tired. I don't believeI could stay awake all night if I tried."
"Is there any way of concealing the nugget?"
"I don't know. If we had a cellar that would be a good place, but----"
"Stop, I have an idea!" cried Harry eagerly.
"Well, Harry, out with it."
"We can put the nugget in the trunk."
There was an old trunk, covered with hair, which had been left by thelast occupant of the cabin. The lock was broken, and it was not of muchuse or value, but the boys occasionally used it as a seat.
"What security would that be?" said Obed. "It is easy enough to open thetrunk."
"I know it, but I have another idea. Wrap up that stone in thehandkerchief in place of the nugget. The thief--if one shouldcome--would see it, and make off with it without stopping to examine itscontents."
Obed smiled grimly.
"That's a good idea," he said. "I believe you're right, boy. It's dark,and the thief couldn't tell the difference till he came to examine it."
Stones and fragments of rock are rare in that part of Australia, and Iam not prepared to explain how this particular rock found its way intothe mining village. The boys had found it, however, and thinking itmight be of some use had carried it to the cabin. Never, however, intheir wildest imaginings had it entered into their minds to conceive theuse to which they were now putting it.
No sooner said than done. The nugget was taken from the enfoldingbandanna, and dropped into the trunk, which Obed placed at the head ofhis pallet.
"I wish there was a lock and key," he said. "I should somehow feelsafer."
"It's no use wishing," said Harry. "We've got to take things as we findthem."
"That's true philosophy, boy. Now get the rock, and tie it up."
Harry did so.
"Where shall I put it?" he asked.
"Anywhere where it can be seen easily. We won't trouble the thief tolook round much. We'll make everything easy for him."
When the transfer was effected, the boys laughed with glee.
"Do you know, Obed," said Harry. "I shall be rather disappointed now ifthe thief doesn't come."
"I can get along without him," said Obed dryly.
"But it'll be such a good joke, Obed."
"I don't care so much about jokes as I did when I was your age, Harry. Iused to be a great feller for jokes when I was along in my teens. Did Iever tell you the joke I played on the schoolmaster?
"Well, I was attendin' the district school the winter I was sixteen, andI expect I was rather troublesome, though there wasn't anythingdownright bad about me. But I remember one day when I stuck a bent pinin the chair the master usually sot in, and I shan't forget till mydyin' day how quick he riz up when he sot down on it."
Obed chuckled at the recollection, and so did the boys. Their sympathiesought to have been with the schoolmaster, but I am sorry to say that didnot prevent their enjoying the joke.
"Were you found out?" asked Jack.
"Not exactly, but I think the master always suspected me. At any rate hewas always cuffin' me and pullin' my hair. I didn't mind the fust somuch as the last. So one day I got my mother to cut my hair close to myhead. When I went to school the master gave me a queer look. He knewwhat made me have my hair cut. The next time I got into mischief hecalled me up, and instead of pullin' my hair he pulled my ears till Ihollered. 'Now go home and get your ears cut off,' he said, but Ididn't."
"It seems to me the joke was on you that time, Obed."
"I've surmised as much myself," said Obed, laughing quietly. "But I'mtired, boys, and I believe I shall have to go off to sleep, nugget or nonugget."
"All right! Good-night, Obed."
"Good-night, boys."
CHAPTER XXV.
THE MIDNIGHT ROBBERY.
The thief had little difficulty in entering the cabin. No one in themining settlement thought of locking the outer door or closing thewindows. In many cases the doors were left ajar; in some cases therewere none. It was not necessary, therefore, to become a housebreaker.Entrance then was the least difficulty.
The tramp, however, was not quite easy in his mind. He didn't care forthe two boys, but he glanced with apprehension at the reclining figureof the tall gaunt Yankee, who was thin but wiry, and possessed of morethan ordinary physical strength.
"If he should tackle me," thought the midnight visitor with a shudder,"it would be all up with me. He could shake the life out of me."
But the stake was a valuable one--it would in all probability make himcomfortable for life, if judiciously husbanded--and Obed's slumberseemed so profound that there appeared to be no risk. Nevertheless thetramp trembled, and his heart was in his mouth as he stealthily got inthrough the open window, and moved toward the nugget, or what hesuppos
ed to be such. He had one eye on Obed as he reached for thebundle. It was with difficulty that he could lift it, so heavy was it,but this only encouraged him, and made his eyes sparkle covetously. Theheavier it was, the more valuable it must be. Were it twice as heavy, hewould be willing to carry it ten miles, enduring cheerfully all thefatigue it might entail. No thought of the rightful owners or of theirdisappointment disturbed him. That greed of gain which hardens the heartand banishes all scruples, held firm dominion over him.
He lifted the bundle, and as noiselessly as he entered he made hisegress through the window.
He thought he was unobserved, but he was mistaken.
Harry Vane was usually a heavy sleeper. He had slept through many athunder-storm at home, and under ordinary circumstances he would haveslept through this entire night. But the thought of the nugget, even inhis sleeping hours, weighed upon him and entered into his dreams.Singularly, he was dreaming at this very moment that it was beingstolen, and in the intensity of his excitement all at once he becamebroad awake, just as the thief was disappearing through the window. Witha startled look he glanced toward the place where the false nugget hadbeen placed.
It was gone!
Evidently the thief had been taken in, and the thought amused him somuch that he almost unconsciously laughed aloud. The sound fell on theears of the receding thief, and filled his heart with apprehension,though he fancied it was a sound emitted in sleep. Still, it mightprecede awakening.
Once out of the window he did not stand upon the order of his going, butfled with a speed remarkable considering the weight of the bundle hecarried.
Harry rose from his bed, and though he felt sure the thief had beendeceived, he still, in order to make sure, opened the trunk and felt forthe lump of gold. With a thrill of joy he found it still there. Then hecould give way to his sense of amusement, and laughed long and loud. Hedid not, however, arouse Jack and Obed, who, like himself, were soundsleepers. He didn't like, however, to have all the amusement to himself,so he shook the Yankee till he awoke.
"What's the matter?" asked Obed, in a drowsy tone.
"We've been robbed," answered Harry.
"What!" exclaimed Mr. Stackpole in dismay, bounding from his pallet, nowthoroughly awake. "What is that you say?"
"The nugget is gone!" said Harry.
"Confusion!" ejaculated Obed. "When? Who took it?"
"Don't be alarmed, Obed," said Harry quietly. "It's only the bogusnugget. The real one is safe where we hid it."
"Tell me all about it, Harry. What skunk has been in here?"
"You know the man that was spying about our claim--the tramp."
"Did you see him?"
"Not till he was just getting out of the window."
Harry recounted briefly his sudden awakening, and the sight that greetedhim as he opened his eyes.
"I wish I'd been awake. I'd have boosted him out of that window," saidObed grimly.
"I have no doubt you would, Obed," said Harry, laughing, "but I think weneedn't feel much of a grudge against the poor fellow. When he comes toexamine his booty by daylight, it's my impression he'll feel sickenough."
Obed laughed too. "I'd like to be looking on when he makes thediscovery," he said. "He'll look green enough, I guess."
"How could the fellow have found out that we had found it?" said Harry,with a puzzled expression.
"He must have been out late and seen us coming from the mine."
"It is lucky we thought of hiding it, and leaving the rock in its place,Obed."
"That's so. The rock came in handy for once."
"Do you think there is any danger of another visit to-night?"
"No; he probably won't discover how he has been tricked till morning."
"And even if he does he may suppose that this rock is what we broughtwith us."
"Possibly. Still, Harry, I think we'd better keep awake and watchto-night. It will only be for one night, as to-morrow we can makearrangements to send the nugget by express to Melbourne."
"I thought we should be carrying it there ourselves."
"No, it would not be safe. To-morrow everybody will know that we havefound a nugget, and if we attempted to carry it ourselves we should notget ten miles away without being attacked, and perhaps killed."
"Then we can send it by express?" queried Harry.
"Yes, I have inquired into this--not that I thought we would be luckyenough to need the information. The government escorts charge one percent., and besides the Crown exacts a royalty of ten per cent."
"That's pretty steep, isn't it, Obed?"
"I will cheerfully bear my part of it," said Obed. "I remember there wasan old fellow in our place who owned considerable property--at any ratehe was taxed for fifteen thousand dollars. Whenever taxes became due hewas always groanin' and predictin' that he'd end his days in thepoorhouse. My father, who was only taxed for fifteen hundred, said tohim one day, 'Mr. Higgins, if you'll give me half of your property, I'llagree to pay taxes on the whole, so that you'll have nothing to pay.'"
"Did he accept?" asked Harry, with a smile.
"Not much, but he stopped growlin'. It may have given him a new idea ofthe matter."
"How soon do you think of getting away, Obed?"
"As soon as we have sold the claim," answered the Yankee. "When it getsreported round the camp what we've found there'll be plenty that'll wantto buy it on speculation, you may be sure of that."
"I didn't think of that," said Harry, his eyes brightening. "We'reluckier than I thought."
"Yes," answered Obed jocularly, "we're men of property now. I'm afraidwe'll have to pay taxes ourselves when we get home."
CHAPTER XXVI.
A THIEF'S EMBARRASSMENT.
When the thief left Obed Stackpole's cabin with his booty his heart wasfilled with exultation. He had been drifting about for years, thefootball of fortune, oftener down than up, and had more than once knownwhat it was to pass an entire day without food. And all this because hehad never been willing to settle down to steady work or honest industry.He had set out in life with a dislike for each, and a decided preferencefor living by his wits. Theft was no new thing for him. Once he hadbarely escaped with his life in one of the Western States of America forstealing a horse. He had drifted to Australia, with no idea of workingat the mines or anywhere else, but with the intention of robbing somelucky miner and making off with the proceeds of his industry.
Well, he had succeeded, and his heart was light.
"No more hard work for me," he said to himself joyfully, "no moreprivation and suffering. Now I can live like a gentleman."
It never seemed to occur to him that a thief could by no possibilitylive like a gentleman. To be a gentleman, in his opinion, meant having apocketful of money.
He would like to have examined the nugget, but there was no time, norwas there light enough to form an opinion of it. Besides, Obed and thetwo boys might at any moment discover their loss, and then there wouldbe pursuers on his track. He could not hide it, for it was too large,and anyone seeing what he carried would suspect its nature andcharacter.
The responsibility of property was upon him now. It was an unaccustomedsensation. This thief began now to dread an encounter with otherthieves. There were other men, as well as himself, who had littlerespect for the rights of property, and this he well knew.
"Where shall I go?" he asked himself in perplexity.
It would not do to stay in the neighborhood of the mining camp. By dawn,or as soon as tidings of the robbery should spread, there would be anorganized pursuit. In any mining settlement a thief fares hard. In theabsence of any established code of laws, the relentless laws of JudgeLynch are executed with merciless severity. Beads of perspiration beganto form on the brow of the thief as he realized the terrible danger hehad incurred. What good would it do him after all to get away with thenugget if it should cost him his life, and that was a contingency, ashis experience assured him, by no means improbable.
"If I were only in Melbourne," he
said to himself, "I would lose no timein disposing of the nugget, and then would take the first ship forEngland--or anywhere else. Any place would be better than Australia, forthat will soon be too hot to hold me."
It was one thing to wish, and another to realize the wish. He was stillin the immediate vicinity of the mining camp, and there were almostinsuperable difficulties in the way of getting far from it with histreasure safe.
The thief kept on his way, however, and after a while reached a piece ofwoods.
"This will be a good place to hide," he bethought himself. "I may beable to conceal the nugget somewhere."
His first feeling of exultation had given place to one of deep anxietyand perplexity. After, he was not as happy as he anticipated. Onlyyesterday he had been poor--almost destitute--but at any rate free fromanxiety and alarm. Now he was rich, or thought he was, and his heart wasfilled with nervous apprehension.
He wandered about for two or three hours, weary and feeling great needof sleep, but afraid to yield to the impulse. Suppose he should loseconsciousness, and sleep till morning: the first man who found himasleep would rob him of the precious nugget, and then he would be backagain where he had been the day before, and for years back. The dream ofhis life had been fulfilled, and he was in no position to enjoy it.Oftentimes God grants our wishes only to show us how little they add toour happiness.
It was no light burden--this heavy nugget which he was forced to carrywith him, and, drowsy as he was, more than once he stumbled with it andcame near falling. But at last he saw before him a cabin--deserted,apparently--and his heart was filled with joy. It would afford him aplace to obtain needed repose, and there would be some means of hidinghis rich treasure.
In A New World; or, Among The Gold Fields Of Australia Page 11