The Gold Hunters' Adventures Part 48

CHAPTER XXVI.

FINDING OF THE TREASURE.

By the time we reached the scene of our gold digging operations the greater portion of the heat of the day was pa.s.sed, and we felt refreshed and ready to commence work with a will. Steel Spring, who had promised his valuable aid in searching for the treasure, in consideration that we would befriend him and save his neck from the grasp of the police, had led the way with immense strides, and a confident air that inspired us with renewed hope and bright antic.i.p.ations of success.

Upon reaching the ground we found that our shovels and picks were undisturbed, and it was evident that no visitor had intruded during our _lengthy absence_.

"Come, Steel Spring," I said, addressing that worthy personage, "point out the right spot for us to dig, and then we will go to work _without delay_."

"But I can't do that vithout some calculation and study. All great hengineers has to investigate before vorking, and I'm no exception to the rule."

"Why, you miserable scamp," cried Fred, angrily, "didn't you say that you could lead us to the very spot where the treasure was buried?"

"Vell, vot if I did? Can't a man make 'stakes--and vouldn't you 'ave said that you knew something, if a rifle vos placed agin your brains, and a feller threatened to blow 'em hout?"

"Then you mean to say that you have imposed upon us?' I asked, coolly, seeing that Fred was likely to get into a pa.s.sion.

"No, I don't say that, 'cos tain't so; and I should but tell a lie if I spoke in that way. A falsehood is an abomination vich I can't stand, and I was never guilty of one," answered the fellow, with a grin which proved how well he liked to stretch the truth.

"Explain your meaning," said Fred, "or I will hang you on a gum tree, and use you as a scarecrow." "Vell, didn't I tell you I saw the money buried from a distance? You don't s'pose that I would be very near when Jim Gulpin was doing secret things, does you?"

I made no answer, and he continued,--

"I took good care to be hoff so far that he couldn't even smell me, 'cos I knew that if I had but vinked once vithin ten rods he would have seen me, and then vot would 'ave been the consequence?"

Fred replied that he supposed he would have been kicked in a summary manner, and he was not sure but he deserved it.

"Had it only been kicking I could 'ave taken it very comfortably and thought nothing of it--but no, sir, it would have been nothing of the kind. It would 'ave been after this fashion."

He made an expressive motion with his hand across his throat, and judging from the habits and antecedents of the ill.u.s.trious bushranger, there is but little doubt that he did wisely in placing a great distance between them.

"Well, point out the spot which you think contains the money," I said.

"Vell, I can do that, although I'm not to be 'bused and deprived of my supper if I don't happen to hit right."

"You shall be treated according to your merits," cried Smith, who had listened patiently to his woes, and was amused at his impudence.

"Vell, if I is treated according to my merits it's all I vants, 'cos I'se certain to get 'nuff to heat and drink without vorking very hard--and vot can a gemman 'spect more in this vorld?"

We returned no answer to his suggestion, and finding that we were disposed to be serious, and not likely to stand any more of his nonsense, he requested permission to occupy the same place where he had secreted himself when the bushranger buried his gold; and while one of us walked over the clearing he thought he could tell when we reached the exact spot. He gave as a reason that he had taken the bearings of the place by a tree which stood on a line with the bushranger while digging.

We gratified his humor, but to prevent trickery Fred was despatched to watch his movements and prevent escape. Steel Spring vowed and protested that he meant honestly by us; but he was too notorious a liar to be believed, and when he found that we would not trust him, he appeared to be highly pleased, and considered it a proof of his sagacity and cunning.

We watched them as they walked to the spot which Steel Spring indicated--a distance of nearly a quarter of a mile from the clearing; and when the fellow announced that he was ready for the test, I slowly pa.s.sed over such portions of the ground as I thought contained the money.

Three or four times did I pa.s.s over the ashes where the bodies of the dead bushrangers were burned, and yet I heard no indications from Steel Spring. At last I set my compa.s.s, and walked in an exact south-eastern direction, about ten paces from the location of the hut, and within a dozen feet of the hole which we had already dug.

"Stop," said the long-legged biped, "don't move for your life! Vait till I comes--you've hit it for a farding."

With springs which caused Rover to howl with jealousy, the fellow bounded over the bushes towards us, and in a minute's time was beside me.

"Give me the shovel!" he cried, in an excited manner. "I is certain that you is standing on the place."

"Here is a shovel," said Smith, with a wink of mischief at us; "let us see how soon you can bring the dust in sight."

"It won't take me long, I can tell you," replied Steel Spring, throwing out a few shovels full and then pausing to rest, as though a new thought had entered his long head.

"Dig away," yelled Smith, who was wielding a pickaxe with great effort.

"I was thinkin' how much better I could direct than work," said the cunning fellow, too lazy to dig.

"Then stand aside and give me the shovel," cried Fred, impatiently.

Steel Spring willingly relinquished it, and pretending that he felt exceedingly nervous and faint, he squatted down upon the ground and watched with eager eyes every particle of dirt that was thrown from the hole.

Before we got fairly to work the sun had set, and the shades of night began to be thrown upon the dark forest of gum trees by which we were surrounded. We had wasted so much time talking and listening to Steel Spring, that the afternoon had pa.s.sed away almost imperceptibly. To be caught in the woods over night was a joke which we did not care about indulging in, and we made strenuous exertions to complete our task before darkness had entirely set in.

Already had we piled up a large mound of earth, and excavated a hole big enough to bury an ox, and yet nothing was to be seen of the treasure; and as each additional shovel full of dirt was thrown up I began to grow discouraged, and felt that I had been deceived, and almost cursed the folly which led me to believe in the dying declaration of the bushranger.

"I don't see any use in digging here," said Smith, pausing, and wiping the perspiration from his heated brow; "the dirt we are removing now has not been disturbed since the formation of the island. If there is any gold dust buried in this clearing, we must search in another direction."

"But haven't I told you that you was in the right spot?" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Steel Spring.

"Keep your advice for those who ask it," returned Smith, bluntly, want of success having made him cross.

"Vell, haven't you all been haxing me, and don't I tell vere the money is? If you 'spect to get it, you must vork."

"Then take hold of this pickaxe, and see how you like it. Jump into the hole without a word, or I'll help you with my heavy hand!" cried Smith, somewhat irritated.

Steel Spring would have hesitated, but a glance at the face of his opponent decided him, and, with many a groan, he entered the hole and commenced working.

The rest of us discussed the propriety of suspending labor until morning, as the evening was so far advanced that it was impossible to see half a dozen yards from our faces. Fred and myself were opposed to cessation, as we knew that we were in a dangerous part of the country, and how soon we should be interrupted by gangs of bushrangers it was hard to tell. The forest was full of outlaws--desperate men, who would shed blood freely for the sake of gold or revenge, and should we be surprised, there was no possibility of escape.

Under these circ.u.mstances, we urged that we had better work that night, dark as it was, than remain there two or three days, and expose our lives needlessly.

During the time that we were debating the question, Steel Spring was apparently busy at work, although I noticed that he paid considerable attention to what was going on, and listened to every word uttered with an interest that appeared unaccountable. I thought it was from curiosity, and did not call any one's attention to it; but when I suggested that a small fire should be made, so that its light would enable us to work to more purpose, to my surprise he urged the advantage of the scheme, and was clamorous for the privilege of tending it.

The project was dismissed as soon as formed, for I recollected that the light of a fire would attract visitors that we were not anxious to see.

As a last resort, however, we resolved to go over the whole ground, and endeavor to detect the spot, by discovering if the earth had been recently removed.

We no longer placed confidence in the story of Steel Spring, yet we thought it better to keep him at work in the hole, which was now even with his neck, than permit him to mingle with us in the dark, for somehow, we began to have strange suspicions that he was not dealing fairly by us.

Luckily, the sky was cloudless, and the stars shone with uncommon brilliancy, as though the constellations wished to afford us every facility for carrying our designs into effect.