Part 33 (1/2)

It was not long before Temple made the unwelcome discovery, suspected from the first, that the box was gone. He desisted from his work and gave vent to such a volley of imprecations that Philip trembled as if he had an ague fit.

Could it be, Temple asked himself, that Vernon had proved false to him, and, returning, conveyed away the box for his own individual profit?

”If he has, I'll kill him,” he muttered, in a deep, growling tone.

Philip heard him, and his heart beat fast with fear. Who did Temple want to kill? Was it himself or Congreve?

”I'd give a thousand dollars, if I had it, to be at home,” thought the miserable boy.

As for Temple, he was no less miserable. All his hopes and antic.i.p.ations were dashed. The disappearance of the tin box, whoever might have removed it, would render it impossible to carry out plans of Californian emigration with which he had been solacing himself all the morning. Such a big haul as the present might never be made again.

His first suspicion fell upon his partner, but he also thought of the two whom he had met in the forenoon in the wood. They had been suspiciously near the spot, and might be implicated in the loss. It didn't seem probable, but it was possible.

At this inauspicious moment Philip, yielding to a tickling in the throat which he couldn't overcome, coughed. It was not a loud cough, but Temple heard it.

He instantly started for the quarter from which the sound proceeded, and in a few seconds discovered and dragged Philip by the collar from behind the tree.

”What are you doing here?” he demanded, sternly.

”Nothing,” answered Philip, trembling.

”Ha! You are one of the boys that I caught prowling round here this morning.”

”I have as much right here as you,” said Philip, plucking up a little courage.

”Have you? We'll see about that,” snarled Temple. ”Where's the other fellow?”

”He isn't here.”

”Isn't here? I don't believe it. He's hiding somewhere near.”

”Then you can find him,” said Philip, sullenly.

”No matter! I've got you, you rascal!” And he shook Philip fiercely.

”What villainous work have you been up to?”

”I don't know what you mean,” said Philip, his teeth chattering. ”I am the son of Colonel Ross, and he won't allow me to be treated this way.”

”I'd treat him the same way if I caught him here,” growled Temple, with a lack of reverence for the colonel's exalted position, which struck Philip with horror. ”Now, tell me what you have done with the tin box, you young scoundrel!”

”The tin box!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Philip, in genuine amazement.

”Yes, the tin box. You know well enough what I mean.”

”I don't know anything of any tin box; indeed, I don't.”

”Do you mean to say you didn't dig it up from the place where we put it?”