Part 31 (1/2)

”How soon do you think of getting away, Obed?”

”As soon as we have sold the claiets reported round the camp e've found there'll be plenty that'll want to buy it on speculation, you may be sure of that”

”I didn't think of that,” said Harry, his eyes brightening ”We're luckier than I thought”

”Yes,” answered Obed jocularly, ”we're men of property now I'et home”

CHAPTER XXVI

A THIEF'S EMBARRassMENT

When the thief left Obed Stackpole's cabin with his booty his heart was filled with exultation He had been drifting about for years, the football of fortune, oftener down than up, and had more than once knohat it was to pass an entire day without food And all this because he had 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 preference for living by his wits Theft was no new thing for him Once he had barely escaped with his life in one of the Western States of A a horse He had drifted to Australia, with no idea of working at theso 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 hi Now I can live like a gentleman”

It never seemed to occur to hientle a pocketful of et, but there was no tih to forht at any moment discover their loss, and then there would be pursuers on his track He could not hide it, for it was too large, and anyone seeing what he carried would suspect its nature and character

The responsibility of property was upon hian now to dread an encounter with other thieves There were other hts of property, and this he well knew

”Where shall I go?” he asked hihborhood of the s of the robbery should spread, there would be an organized pursuit In anysettlement a thief fares hard In the absence of any established code of laws, the relentless laws of Judge Lynch are executed with an to forer he had incurred What good would it do hiet if it should cost hiency, as his experience assured him, by no means improbable

”If I were only in Melbourne,” he said to hiet, and then would take the first shi+p for England--or anywhere else Any place would be better than Australia, for that will soon be too hot to holdto wish, and another to realize the wish He was still in the i camp, and there were al far from it with his treasure safe

The thief kept on his way, however, and after a while reached a piece of woods

”This will be a good place to hide,” he bethought hiet soiven place to one of deep anxiety and perplexity After, he was not as happy as he anticipated Only yesterday he had been poor--almost destitute--but at any rate free froht he was, and his heart was filled with nervous apprehension

He wandered about for two or three hours, weary and feeling great need of sleep, but afraid to yield to the impulse Suppose he should lose consciousness, and sleep till : the first et, and then he would be back again where he had been the day before, and for years back The dream of his life had been fulfilled, and he was in no position to enjoy it

Oftentirants our wishes only to show us how little they add to our happiness

It was no light burden--this heavy nugget which he was forced to carry with him, and, drowsy as he was,But at last he saw before him a cabin--deserted, apparently--and his heart was filled with joy It would afford him a place to obtain needed repose, and there would be so his rich treasure

He peered timidly into the cabin and found it eet under the upper part, thus raising it and supplying the place of a pillow It was hard enough, as the reader will i; and appeared to combine safety with a chance to rest