CHAPTER XXVIII. A RICH DEPOSIT.

 About the middle of the next forenoon Tom suddenly stopped work.

 

"What's the matter, Tom? Are you tired?"

 

"No, but I feel like exploring a little. Who goes with me?"

 

"Not I," answered Ferguson. "Let well enough alone."

 

"I'll go with you," said Russell. "I should like a holiday. Besides, we may discover something."

 

"'A rolling stone gathers no moss,'" said Ferguson.

 

"True, but there's another proverb: 'All work and no play makes Jack¹ a dull boy.' Tom and I will try a little play."

 

The two friends sauntered away in an idle mood; yet, combining business with pleasure, they[Pg 258] watched carefully the surface indications, ready to avail themselves of any that were favorable.

 

"It's a strange life we are leading, Tom," said Russell. "It is free, and independent, and healthful; but I shouldn't like to live so all my life."

 

"Nor I," answered Tom. "No amount of gold would repay me."

 

"Because gold is only valuable for what it will bring. Here it brings nothing."

 

"Except the hope of future ease and comfort," suggested Tom.

 

"Of course; that is what we are working for. We have made a good beginning."

 

"Yes, Dick. I have almost accomplished² what I have had in view ever since I left home."

 

"I know. You mean paying off your father's mortgage."

 

"That's it. It amounts to twenty-two hundred dollars, and I have but a few hundred dollars more to earn. I would stay here a month or two longer, if my clothes would hold together; but I can't risk it."[Pg 259]

 

"You need rest, at any rate, Tom, leaving clothes out of the question."

 

As he spoke³, Tom, without special thought, drove his pick into the ground. It was a lucky inspiration. Some shining particles attracted the attention of Russell.

 

"Tom," he exclaimed, in excitement, "do you see that, and that? I believe you've struck a bonanza⁴."

 

Upon that both set to work in earnest. A further investigation⁵ showed that Russell was right. Tom, by good luck, had chanced upon a deposit of far greater richness than any they had yet encountered.

 

"If it holds out, our fortunes are made, Tom," said Russell. "Go and call Ferguson, and I will remain on guard till you come back."

 

Tom stood not on the order of his going, but went at once.

 

"What's the matter, Tom?" asked the Scotchman, as, panting and breathless, Tom stood before him. "Has anything happened to Russell?"

 

"No; it's good news—splendid news, Mr.[Pg 260] Ferguson. We've found a place ten times as rich as this. Come at once, and see."

 

Ferguson made preparations to accompany Tom with what seemed to our hero to be provoking deliberation. In truth the Scotchman, with his national caution, was rather skeptical⁶ as to Tom's news, and did not suffer himself to become enthusiastic or excited. Tom had hard work to accommodate his impatient steps to the measured pace of his more sedate⁷ companion. When at length they reached the spot they found Russell no less impatient.

 

"I thought you would never come," he said.

 

"Tom wanted to fly," said Ferguson; "but I am too old for that. Now, what is it you have found?"

 

When he was shown what had been discovered he admitted that it was very promising⁸.

 

"If it holds out, we shall be lucky," he said.

 

"It will hold out," said Russell, enthusiastically.

 

"It isn't well to be too confident," said Ferguson, cautiously.[Pg 261]

 

"You are very cold-blooded, Mr. Ferguson," said Russell, impatiently. "Won't anything excite you?"

 

"What good would it do to become excited?" returned the Scotchman. "I am as ready to test the matter as you are, and I shall rejoice if your sanguine⁹ expectations are realized. Do not expect too much, however, and you will guard against possible disappointment."

 

But there was no disappointment awaiting them. They worked steadily¹⁰ for two weeks, with marvelous results. In this time they unearthed¹¹ six thousand dollars' worth of gold, which by arrangement they divided equally between them; and still the gold deposit was far from being exhausted¹².

 

At the end of the fortnight they were visited by a party of capitalists from San Francisco, who were out on an exploring expedition. They recognized the richness of the new discoveries, and after some negotiation¹³ offered the three friends ten thousand dollars for their claims. One consideration decided¹⁴ them to accept. It was absolutely necessary for[Pg 262] them to go to the city for clothing and other articles, of which they stood in imperative¹⁵ need. They closed the bargain and started on their return.

 

1 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

2 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 bonanza   

n.富矿带，幸运，带来好运的事

参考例句：

• Bargain hunters enjoyed a real bonanza today.到处买便宜货的人今天真是交了好运。
• What a bonanza for the winning ticket holders!对于手持胜券的人来说，这是多好的运气啊。

5 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

6 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

7 sedate   

adj.沉着的，镇静的，安静的

参考例句：

• After the accident,the doctor gave her some pills to sedate her.事故发生后，医生让她服了些药片使她镇静下来。
• We spent a sedate evening at home.我们在家里过了一个恬静的夜晚。

8 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

9 sanguine   

adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的

参考例句：

• He has a sanguine attitude to life.他对于人生有乐观的看法。
• He is not very sanguine about our chances of success.他对我们成功的机会不太乐观。

10 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

11 unearthed   

出土的（考古）

参考例句：

• Many unearthed cultural relics are set forth in the exhibition hall. 展览馆里陈列着许多出土文物。
• Some utensils were in a state of decay when they were unearthed. 有些器皿在出土时已经残破。

12 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

13 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

14 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

15 imperative   

n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的

参考例句：

• He always speaks in an imperative tone of voice.他老是用命令的口吻讲话。
• The events of the past few days make it imperative for her to act.过去这几天发生的事迫使她不得不立即行动。