Part 30 (2/2)
”I don't know--leave it here as we've always done, I reckon No use to take it away till we start south Six hundred and fifty in silver's soht--it won't matter to coht as we used to do--it's better”
”Yes: but look here; it ht chance at that job; accidents ood place; we'll just regularly bury it--and bury it deep”
”Good idea,” said the comrade, alked across the room, knelt down, raised one of the rearward hearth-stones and took out a bag that jingled pleasantly He subtracted from it twenty or thirty dollars for hi to the latter, as on his knees in the corner, now, digging with his bowie-knife
The boys forgot all their fears, all theireyes they watched every ination! Six hundred dollars was h tounder the happiest auspices--there would not be any bothersoed each other every es and easily understood, for they silad _noe're here!”
Joe's knife struck upon so
”hello!” said he
”What is it?” said his comrade
”Half-rotten plank--no, it's a box, I believe Here--bear a hand and we'll see what it's here for Never mind, I've broke a hole”
He reached his hand in and drew it out--
”Man, it's money!”
The two old The boys above were as excited as thehted
Joe's comrade said:
”We'll st the weeds in the corner the other side of the fireplace--I saw it a ht the boys' pick and shovel Injun Joe took the pick, looked it over critically, shook his head, an to use it The box was soon unearthed It was not very large; it was iron bound and had been very strong before the slow years had injured it The men contemplated the treasure awhile in blissful silence
”Pard, there's thousands of dollars here,” said Injun Joe
”'Twas always said that Murrel's gang used to be around here one suer observed
”I know it,” said Injun Joe; ”and this looks like it, I should say”
”Now you won't need to do that job”
The halfbreed frowned Said he:
”You don't know'Tain't robbery altogether--it's _revenge_!” and a wicked light flamed in his eyes ”I'll need your help in it When it's finished--then Texas Go home to your Nance and your kids, and stand by till you hear from me”
”Well--if you say so; what'll we do with this--bury it again?”
”Yes [Ravishi+ng delight overhead] _No_! by the great Sacheot That pick had fresh earth on it! [The boys were sick with terror in a moment] What business has a pick and a shovel here? What business with fresh earth on theone? Have you heard anybody?--seen anybody? What! bury it again and leave theround disturbed? Not exactly--not exactly We'll take it to ht of that before You mean Number One?”
”No--Number Two--under the cross The other place is bad--too coh to start”