Part 20 (2/2)
A flat surface on the side of a small hill was selected, and the tents were placed end to end, as before, but tightened down to stay Then a trench was dug around the sides and the back, so that when it rained the water ht drain off This done, the interior was carpeted with sood, healthful sreens; ”and one that ard off ht to sleep almost as comfortably as on a feather bed”
The interior of the tents arranged, a fireplace was next in order, a seht be sheltered from the wind Then came a cache for the provisions to be stored away; and their doht and early on the day following that all hands set off to prospect along the bottoulch, which the boys had named Prosper They were divided into two parties, the doctor and the captain in one, and the boys and their uncle in the other The latter turned up to the left arulch and presently ca along had deposited soht to twenty inches
”Noe'll shovel up some of this sand in the pan and see what it aht on top, boys If there is any gold, it is down next to the bed rock And don't fill the pan too full” The boys worked eagerly, and soon had the pan nearly full of the sand Mr Portney then carried it to a nearby pool and allowed the water to run over the top, then brushed off the surface and began to ”wash down” This took severalthe process
At last only a handful of sand and dirt remained at the bottom of the pan All three exarain of dull yellow
”That is gold,” explained Foster Portney ”But there is hardly enough to pay; probably three or four cents' worth in all”
”Is that all!” cried Randy, and his voice was full of disappointathered up the pick and shovel and moved on
In two days a dozen other spots had been tried with even worse success, and the three in the party began to i a claim there was concerned To add to their discoone all over that locality a month previous
”Ain't nothin' thar,” he announced; ”nothin' wuth over four or five cents a panful Better try your luck elsewar, friends”
”We'll put in another day over here,” announced Foster Portney ”One day won't count very one over a dozen tiht a lunch with thee of a sry and could have devoured twice asto learn that short rations would be so eaten as allotted to hian to poke around with the pick, while his uncle and Earl still rested The cliff was divided into two sections, and betas a lot of rotten stone, dirt,the pick deeply into this, Randy loosened a portion of the stone, and out it rolled into the gulch, bringing the dirt and a good portion of the rubbish after it He began to scatter the stuff to the right and the left when so he picked it up, while his heart leaped into his throat
”Uncle Foster! Earl! Look at this!” he cried, and ran to theer than an egg and quite heavy
Foster Portney gave one glance and then leaped forward, dropping what food still remained in his hand
”Where did you find it, Randy?” he exclaiold, Uncle Foster?”
”Yes, Randy, it's a nugget as sure as you're born--a nugget worth at least two hundred dollars And what's better yet,” went on Mr Portney as Randy began to dance with delight, ”the chances are that there are more where this came froet worth two hundred dollars! Randy could scarcely believe his eyes and ears He gazed at his uncle for a moment in open-mouthed wonder
”You're in luck, and no mistake!” broke in Earl, as he also examined the yellowish lump ”Say, but that's a strike to start on, isn't it!”
He had hoped to rudge his brother that pleasure Leaving the lump in his uncle's possession, Randy led the way back to where the find had been made, and all three set to ithout delay to empty the ”pocket,” as Foster Portney called it, and examine the contents
”Here's another!” cried Earl, presently ”It's not quite so large, though”
”But it's worth at least a hundred dollars, Earl,” answered his uncle
”And see, here are a number of little felloorth from ten dollars to fifty each Randy has struck a bonanza beyond a doubt Don't scatter that dirt too ets and dust”
”And old back there,” said Randy, proudly