gold," said Obed, in a low voice. "That's
the last man I wanted to discover our good luck."

"Shan't we keep on working?" asked Harry, in excitement.

"I will just probe a little to form some idea of the size of the
nugget," answered Obed.

"Then you think it is a nugget?" asked Jack eagerly.

"Yes, I think our luck has come at last, boys. I think we will be able
to pull up stakes and go back to America. But about keeping on now, we
shall need to be cautious. Someone might come by, and see what we are
about."

Then Harry made a suggestion.

"Let Jack go up to the top, and if anyone comes he can whistle. That
will put us on our guard."

"A good idea!" said Obed.

So Jack threw himself on the ground in a listless posture, and the other
two continued their explorations. They dug all about the boulder, which
proved to be about a foot in diameter. It was embedded in clay, from
which it was separated with some difficulty. It was encased in quartz,
but the interior was bright, glittering gold.

"It's a regular beauty," said Obed in a low tone, his eyes glittering
with excitement. "It isn't once in a dog's age that so big a nugget is
discovered."

"How much do you call it worth, Obed?" asked Harry in the same low
tone.

"That's hard tellin', Harry; but it's worth ten thousand dollars
easy."

"Thank God!" ejaculated Harry fervently. "That will release us from our
imprisonment, and enable us to go back to America."

"You are right, Harry, but the hardest job lies before us."

"What's that?"

"To get it out without observation, and keep it secure from thieves."

"We'll do our best. Only you give the orders, Obed."

"Then, first and foremost, we'll cover it up again, and go up till
evening, when we will secure it, and carry it to our cabin."

So said, so done. They joined Jack at the limit of the excavation.

"Is it all right?" asked the young sailor eagerly.

"Yes," answered Harry.

"Is it really a big one?"

"Yes; we can all go back to America, Jack."

"And I can once more be a sailor?"

"Yes, if you like it."

Jack was told of their plan of removing the nugget by night, and saw at
once that it was a wise one.

"Shall we go to the cabin now?" he asked.

"No, Jack; it won't do to leave our treasure unguarded. We will lounge
here and make sure that no one robs us of our discovery."

[Illustration: Finding the Nugget.]

So they sat down, and Obed lighted his pipe once more.

A neighbor strol