Part 27 (1/2)

”We have certainly struck it rich,” went on Abe, as he went back to where he had dug the hole. ”Now we'd better all begin prospectin'

here, for it looks like a big deposit. We'll stake out a large enough claim to take it all in. I guess Mr. Parker can do that, seein' as how he knows about such things.”

The scientist agreed to do this part of the work, it being understood that all the gold discovered would be shared equally after the expenses of the trip had been paid.

Feverishly Abe and the others began to dig. They did not come upon such a rich deposit as the miner had found, but there were enough nuggets picked up to prove that the expedition would be very successful.

No more attention was paid to the Fogers, but through the telescope Tom could see that the bully and his father had made a camp in one of the ice caves, and that both were eagerly digging in the frozen surface of the valley.

Before night several thousand dollars' worth of gold had been taken out by our friends. It was stored in the airs.h.i.+p, and then, after supper the craft's searchlight was taken off, and placed in such a position in front of the cave of ice so that the beams would illuminate the claim staked out by Tom and the others.

”We'll stand watch an' watch,” suggested Abe, ”but I don't think them Fogers will come around here ag'in.”

They did not, and the night pa.s.sed peacefully. The next day our friends were again at work digging for gold. So were the Fogers, as could be observed through the gla.s.s, but it was impossible to see whether they got any nuggets.

The gold seemed to be in ”pockets,” and that day the ones in the vicinity of the strike first made by Abe were cleaned out.

”We'll have to locate some new 'pockets,'” said the miner, and the adventurers scattered over the frozen plain to look for other deposits of the precious metal.

Tom and Ned were digging together not far from one another. Suddenly Ned let out a joyful cry.

”Strike anything?” asked Tom.

”Something rich,” answered the bank clerk. He lifted from a hole in the ground a handful of the golden pebbles.

”It's as good as Abe's was!” exclaimed Tom. ”We must stake it out at once, or the Fogers may jump it. Come on, we'll go back and tell Abe, and get Mr. Parker and Mr. Damon over here.”

The three men were some distance away, and there was no sign of the Fogers. Tom and Ned hurried back to where their friends were, leaving their picks and shovels on the frozen ground.

The good news was soon told, and, with some stakes hastily made from some extra wood carried on the airs.h.i.+p, the little party hastened back to where Tom and Ned had made their strike.

As they emerged from behind a big hummock of ice they saw, standing over the holes which the lads had dug, Andy Foger and his father!

Each one had a rifle, and there was a smile of triumph on Andy's face!

”What are you doing here?” cried Tom, the hot blood mounting to his cheeks.

”We've just staked out a claim here,” answered the bully.

”And you deserted it,” put in Mr. Foger smoothly. ”I think your mining friend will tell you that we have a right to take up an abandoned claim.”

”But we didn't abandon it!” declared Tom. ”We only went away to get the stakes.”

”The claim was abandoned, and we have 'jumped' it,” went on Mr.

Foger, and he c.o.c.ked his rifle. ”I need hardly tell you that possession is nine points of the law, and that we intend to remain.

Andy, is your gun loaded?”

”Yes, pa.”

”I--I guess they've got us--fer th' time bein',” murmured Abe, as he motioned to Tom and the others to come away. ”Besides they've got guns, an' we haven't--but wait,” added the miner, mysteriously. ”I haven't played all my tricks yet.”