Part 32 (1/2)

Tad's face flushed a vivid red, and he uttered a sharp excla much Maybe I've o on and see if we can't get our bear This see the stone and oncehis rifle

”Come, mush, as Anvik would say”

CHAPTER XXI

CONCLUSION

Professor Zepplin had been closeted in his tent for an hour when he beckoned Tad Butler to enter

”Boy, this rusty stone that you picked up is a gold nugget, worth, I should say, all of five hundred dollars!” cried the Professor excitedly

”Are there more of them, Tad?”

”I can't say I found this one on a bar where it was probably washed down The place was once a streaed its course and is now soold in that sand-bar”

”Then we'd better go after it It probably belongs to no one”

”I'm not sure of that Others may have a juster clai, Tad, without knowing fully We'll look at the place and decide what to do later”

The others were in bed, but still ahen Tad left the Professor's tent, but to their questions he gave evasive answers

It seemed to Tad that he had been asleep but a few minutes when he felt a touch on his shoulder He sat up, instantly wide awake Anvik was bending over hiuide ”One, two, three, four,Tad awakened his co each instructions as to what he was to do Then he hurried to the Professor's tent to give Anvik's news

”Look out!” yelled Stacy shrilly

A series of quick, sharp reports punctured the stillness of the

Tad and Professor Zepplin dashed out, and so did Walter Perkins Ned Rector and Stacy Broere nowhere to be seen Anvik stood against a rock, his blanket drawn about hi from the lower end of it

Foura rifle The rifles were aimed at the asped the Professor It was Darwood, accompanied by Sa of this outrage, gentle to mush back to where you came fro of the sort!”

”You're going now, and in a hurry!”

”What will you do if we refuse again?”

”You'll find out e'll do We're north of fifty-three now You knohat that uns, and do it quick”

”Suppose you set the example,” said Tad quietly He had not spoken up to this point

”Keep still!” couns”