Part 30 (1/2)

”That's it!” cried Jed. ”I thought this place didn't look just right.

It's farther up.”

They ran up the trail a little way, and Jed gave a shout of delight.

”There's the little rock!” he cried. ”Now for the nuggets!”

They knew just where to dig now, and five minutes later Jed and Will had uncovered their store of gold. Such a shout as went up from the men, old Gabe joining in!

”We've struck a bonanza!” cried Ted.

And so they had; for when they came to stake out their claims, they found the indications were of such richness that the mines bid fair to be regular bonanzas. At Gabe's suggestion they formed a sort of company, taking in the men who had come with Ted at such an opportune time.

Because they were the discoverers of the gold mine, Jed and Will were given larger shares than any of the others, though there was enough for all.

”Now we must write and tell dad of our good luck,” proposed Jed one night, in the new camp that had been formed near the place where the nuggets were found.

”And I'll mail the letter,” promised Ted. ”I've got to ride to the town to-morrow.”

CHAPTER XXIII

CHEERLESS PROSPECTS

While Jed and his brother were having such exciting times in the West, matters at the Crosby farm were going along in their usual slow fas.h.i.+on.

The first few days after Jed and Will, in company with Gabe Harrison, had departed, Mrs. Crosby and her daughter Nettie were very lonesome.

”It does seem just as if I'd never see my boys again,” said the mother, wiping away some tears gathered in her eyes.

”You mustn't think that way, ma,” said Nettie. ”First thing you know they'll come back as rich--well, rich enough to have an automobile, maybe.”

”I'm afraid not. I haven't much faith in this gold-mining scheme, though I believe Mr. Harrison meant all right. I wish the boys had stuck to farming.”

”But, mother, they could hardly make a living at it. Look at father, how hard he has to work, and how little we can save.”

”I know it, but it's sure. We have our hens, and we get some eggs. We can go out in the garden and dig potatoes, and we have fruit.”

”Yes, but we can't live on eggs, potatoes and fruit,” objected Nettie with a laugh. ”Now, don't worry, mother. I'm sure the boys will make out all right, though it may take some time. It will be a month before they are in the gold region. I hope they send me some souvenir postals.”

”Do they have souvenir postals out in the mines?”

”I guess so, mother. They have 'em most every place, and I've got quite a collection.”

Mrs. Crosby eagerly watched the mails for the next few days, and she was rewarded by receiving brief notes from the boys, written on their route, telling of the incidents of the way.

As for Mr. Crosby, he was so busy preparing for winter and arranging to pay the interest on the mortgage, that he gave little thought, at first, to the two young gold miners. Of course, he was interested in them, and he hoped for their success, but he was worried about how he would get along without their help on the farm, though most of the fall work was done.

The money received from the barley crop, together with some from the sale of other farm products, was, after part had been taken out for the boys' outfits, placed in the bank at Rossmore, which was the nearest large town to Lockport. Mr. Crosby wanted to keep the cash there until he had enough to meet the payment of interest on the mortgage, which would be due in a few weeks.

He had not quite enough, and he did not see how he was going to complete the sum in time, but he trusted the man who held the mortgage would wait for the balance. He determined, however, to make it up if he could, and, for that reason, he was busier than usual, gathering in all the products he could afford to sell off.