account of my wealth, but that's the way
the case stands just at present. When we were poor I slept like a top."

"I suppose you wouldn't care to get rid of your care by throwing the
nugget away," Harry said with a smile.

"I'm not so uneasy as that yet, but I should feel a little safer if we
and the nugget could be transported to Melbourne in five minutes."

"Suppose someone did see us?" queried Jack.

"Then we may expect a visit some time tonight."

"One of us might remain awake, Obed."

"That would be rather hard on us, for we are all tired. I don't believe
I could stay awake all night if I tried."

"Is there any way of concealing the nugget?"

"I don't know. If we had a cellar that would be a good place, but----"

"Stop, I have an idea!" cried Harry eagerly.

"Well, Harry, out with it."

"We can put the nugget in the trunk."

There was an old trunk, covered with hair, which had been left by the
last occupant of the cabin. The lock was broken, and it was not of much
use or value, but the boys occasionally used it as a seat.

"What security would that be?" said Obed. "It is easy enough to open the
trunk."

"I know it, but I have another idea. Wrap up that stone in the
handkerchief in place of the nugget. The thief--if one should
come--would see it, and make off with it without stopping to examine its
contents."

Obed smiled grimly.

"That's a good idea," he said. "I believe you're right, boy. It's dark,
and the thief couldn't tell the difference till he came to examine it."

Stones and fragments of rock are rare in that part of Australia, and I
am not prepared to explain how this particular rock found its way into
the mining village. The boys had found it, however, and thinking it
might be of some use had carried it to the cabin. Never, however, in
their wildest imaginings had it entered into their minds to conceive the
use to which they were now putting it.

No sooner said than done. The nugget was taken from the enfolding
bandanna, and dropped into the trunk, which Obed placed at the head of
his pallet.

"I wish there was a lock and key," he said. "I should somehow feel
safer."

"It's no use wishing," said Harry. "We've got to take things as we find
them."

"That's true philosophy, boy. Now get the rock, and tie it up."

Harry did so.

"Where shall I put it?" he asked.

"Anywhere where it can be seen easily. We won't trouble the thief to
look round much. We'll make everything easy fo