e flaming torches.

"That's stone-stain, Tom," he said, then a loosened nugget fell to the
floor of the cave. Jo picked it up and there was the yellow gleam of
gold under the wavering light of the torches.

"There's a whole nest of them," cried Tom.

"I wonder where the goose is that laid them?" questioned Jo.

"I'm going to find a nest for myself," said Juarez.

It was a most interesting search, and each of the boys made finds of
their own. Jim discovered a square yard of nuggets, not close set, of
course, but there must have been twenty of varying sizes, and Juarez
made the biggest individual find of a nugget that was five inches tall
and three thick. Every second the other boys expected to make a
discovery that would discount Juarez.

After the first excitement was over, they settled down to systematic
work. It was necessary to send someone back for the lanterns so that
they could have steady light to work by; but who should go? That was
the painful question. The work was so interesting that they all
naturally wanted to stay on the job.

"Let Jeems go," said the generous Tom. "It's an old story to him
anyway." The good-natured Jeems would probably have allowed himself to
be imposed upon, but Jim put his foot down upon Tom's proposition.

"No you don't," he said. "We will draw lots to decide." As luck or
fate would have it, Tom got the shortest straw, or, rather, sliver of
pine, and had to go after the lanterns. Tom was a picture of the heart
bowed down when the decision went against him, and the boys laughed at
his woe-begone face.

"Maybe you will be able to find an honest man with your lantern, Tom,"
said Jim consolingly.

"I wouldn't come to this gang," he retorted bitterly, and to prove
the sincerity of his belief, he took his little pile of nuggets to
Jeems.

"Take care of these till I get back," he said. Then his two brothers
went into convulsions of merriment at this token of Tom's regard.

"If you didn't steal them you would be sure to hide 'em," he said, and
there was considerable truth in his last observation.

"If you are going to make a bank out of Jeems, you will have to pay
him interest," remarked Jo derisively. Tom regarded Jeems doubtfully
and then, reassured by his belief in the latter's generosity, he made
off on his errand.

"There is one good thing about Tom's going," said Juarez, "he will
hustle more than any of us."

"No doubt about that," laughed Jim. "He will scorch a trail