Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-21

Is BY George said Master Harry, I ay,
father, you and l shall have to let ourselves
ont to work with the Kafrs and live on
mealic pap and be staggered at his Inpleas-
ant little joke.
But was in no mood for Joking, for it Is
not merry thing to dig like anything for
months and be completely ruined in the pro
cess, especially if YOU happen 10 dislike dig
ging, and consequently l resentea Harrys
iightheartedness
'..Be quiet, boyr said, raising my hand
as though TO give him cuff, with the result
that the half sovereign slipped out Of 1t and
fell into the gulf below.
".Oh, bother said /, It's gone
"'There dad said Harry, that's what
comes of letting your angry passions rise;
now We are down TO four ami nine-'
II made no answer to these words Of wis
do1n, but scrambled down the deep sides of
he claim, followed by Harry, To hunt for
my little all Well, We hunted and We hunt
ed, but the moonlight is an uncertain thing
TO look for half sovereigns by, and there was
some loose soil about it, for the kAiirs had
knocked off working at the very spot "a
couple of hours before. took PICK AMI
raked away the clods OF earth with it, III thu
last, in sheer annoyance, struck the sharp
pickax down into the soil. which was of a
very hard nature To my astonishment it
sunk in right up to the heft.
why, Harry l said, this ground must
have been disturbed
AZ don't think so, father he answered,
but we will soon see.' and he began to shovel
out the soil with his hands oh. he said
artv old the y,icE
has gone down between them Look. And
he began to pull at one OF the stones.
Il say, dad, he said presently, almost in
a whisper, its precious heavy; feel it, and
he rose and gave me a round, brownish lump
about the size OF a very large apple, which
ne was holding in both his hands took it
curiously and held it up to the light. 1t was
very heavy The moonlight fell upon its
rough and filth encrusted surface, and as
looked curious little thrills OF excitement
began to pass through Inc. But could not
be sure.
"'Cive me your knife, Harry l said.
He did so; and resting the brown stone
on my knee | scratched at its surface. Great
heavens, 1t was soft,
Another second and the secret was out
W. had found great nugget oil pure gold,
four pounds of it more It's gold, lad
said, its gold, lad, or I'm Dutchlnan'
Harry, with his eyes starting out Of his
head glared down at the long cleaning yell
low scratch that l had made upon the virgin
metal. and then burst out into yell upon yell
of exultation, that went ringing away acres
the silent claims Ike the shrieks OF somebody
being murdered
Be quiet | said, do you want every
thief on the field after your
Scarcely were the words out Of my mouth
when heard steathy footstep approach
ing. promptly put the big nugget down
and sat on il, and uncommonly hard it was,
and as did so | saw lean, dark face poked
over the edge Of the claim and a pair OF
| bcady eyes searching rs out. l knew the
face 1t belonged TO a man of very bad char
| acter known as Handspike Tom, who had,
| understood, been named at the Giamo ID
I fields because he had murdered his mate with
handspike He was now, no Doubt, prowl
ing about like a human hysna To what he
| could steal
ass that you, 'unter Quatermaint lie said
| "'Yes, it's /, Mr. Tom,' l answered po
| litely.
| land what might all that there yelling
bcF he asked. Il was walking along, a-tak
| ing of the evening air and a-thinkiIg on the
| stars, when ears owl after owl
"'Well Mr.. Tom answered, that is moi
to he wondered at, seeing that, like yourself
| they are nocturnal birds.
"'iOw after owl! he repeated sternly
taking no notice of Lly Interpretation. and
stops and says, That's murder" and E.,en.
again and thinks, No, it amt; that owl i:
| the owl of heXultation; sonlt ones been ant
got his fingers into 9ummy WELLER pot, III
swear, and rone off is cad III the sucking
Of them" Now, 'unter Quatermain, is
right, Is it nuggets. Oh, lori and hi
smacied his lips audibiy-'great big yellow
boys-is it them that you hav just been ant
tumbled across"
"'No.' said | boldly, 1T isn't'-the crue
CLEAN il his black eyes altogether overcom
! ing my aversion to the uatru.l, for | knew
that if he once found out what it Was that
was sitting on-Gnd, b. the way. | Eav'
heard OF rolling in Goll Icing ,.'o -cl OF as {
| pleasant process, bat | certainly do not rec
olnmcnd anybody who values comfort to try
sitting On i'll should ri d .csy good chaEc,
of being hand. pi4ed' before the ii lit VA
over.