The tramp, however, was not quite easy in his mind. He didn't care for the two boys, but he glanced with apprehension1 at the reclining figure of the tall gaunt Yankee, who was thin but wiry, and possessed2 of more than ordinary physical strength.
"If he should tackle me," thought the midnight visitor with a shudder3, "it would be all up with me. He could shake the life out of me."
But the stake was a valuable one—it would in all probability make him comfortable for life, if judiciously4 husbanded—and Obed's slumber5 seemed so profound that there appeared to be no risk. Nevertheless the tramp trembled, and his heart was in his mouth as he stealthily got in through the open window, and moved toward the nugget, or what he supposed to be such. He had one eye on Obed as he reached for the bundle. It was with difficulty that he could lift it, so heavy was it, but this only encouraged him, and made his eyes sparkle covetously6. The heavier it was, the more valuable it must be. Were it twice as heavy, he would be willing to carry it ten miles, enduring cheerfully all the fatigue7 it might entail8. No thought of the rightful owners or of their disappointment disturbed him. That greed of gain which hardens the heart and banishes9 all scruples10, held firm dominion11 over him.
He thought he was unobserved, but he was mistaken.
Harry13 Vane was usually a heavy sleeper14. He had slept through many a thunder-storm at home, and under ordinary circumstances he would have slept through this entire night. But the thought of the nugget, even in his sleeping hours, weighed upon him and entered into his dreams. Singularly, he was dreaming at this very moment that it was being stolen, and in the intensity15 of his excitement all at once he became broad awake, just as the thief was disappearing through the window. With a startled look he glanced toward the place where the false nugget had been placed.
It was gone!
Evidently the thief had been taken in, and the thought amused him so much that he almost unconsciously laughed aloud. The sound fell on the ears of the receding16 thief, and filled his heart with apprehension, though he fancied it was a sound emitted in sleep. Still, it might precede awakening17.
Once out of the window he did not stand upon the order of his going, but fled with a speed remarkable18 considering the weight of the bundle he carried.
Harry rose from his bed, and though he felt sure the thief had been deceived, he still, in order to make sure, opened the trunk and felt for the lump of gold. With a thrill of joy he found it still there. Then he could give way to his sense of amusement, and laughed long and loud. He did not, however, arouse Jack19 and Obed, who, like himself, were sound sleepers20. He didn't like, however, to have all the amusement to himself, so he shook the Yankee till he awoke.
"We've been robbed," answered Harry.
"What!" exclaimed Mr. Stackpole in dismay, bounding from his pallet, now thoroughly22 awake. "What is that you say?"
"The nugget is gone!" said Harry.
"Confusion!" ejaculated Obed. "When? Who took it?"
"Don't be alarmed, Obed," said Harry quietly. "It's only the bogus nugget. The real one is safe where we hid it."
"You know the man that was spying about our claim—the tramp."
"Did you see him?"
"Not till he was just getting out of the window."
Harry recounted briefly24 his sudden awakening, and the sight that greeted him as he opened his eyes.
"I wish I'd been awake. I'd have boosted him out of that window," said Obed grimly.
"I have no doubt you would, Obed," said Harry, laughing, "but I think we needn't feel much of a grudge25 against the poor fellow. When he comes to examine his booty by daylight, it's my impression he'll feel sick enough."
Obed laughed too. "I'd like to be looking on when he makes the discovery," he said. "He'll look green enough, I guess."
"How could the fellow have found out that we had found it?" said Harry, with a puzzled expression.
"He must have been out late and seen us coming from the mine."
"It is lucky we thought of hiding it, and leaving the rock in its place, Obed."
"That's so. The rock came in handy for once."
"Do you think there is any danger of another visit to-night?"
"No; he probably won't discover how he has been tricked till morning."
"And even if he does he may suppose that this rock is what we brought with us."
"Possibly. Still, Harry, I think we'd better keep awake and watch to-night. It will only be for one night, as to-morrow we can make arrangements to send the nugget by express to Melbourne."
"I thought we should be carrying it there ourselves."
"No, it would not be safe. To-morrow everybody will know that we have found a nugget, and if we attempted to carry it ourselves we should not get ten miles away without being attacked, and perhaps killed."
"Yes, I have inquired into this—not that I thought we would be lucky enough to need the information. The government escorts charge one per cent., and besides the Crown exacts a royalty27 of ten per cent."
"That's pretty steep, isn't it, Obed?"
"I will cheerfully bear my part of it," said Obed. "I remember there was an old fellow in our place who owned considerable property—at any rate he was taxed for fifteen thousand dollars. Whenever taxes became due he was always groanin' and predictin' that he'd end his days in the poorhouse. My father, who was only taxed for fifteen hundred, said to him one day, 'Mr. Higgins, if you'll give me half of your property, I'll agree to pay taxes on the whole, so that you'll have nothing to pay.'"
"Did he accept?" asked Harry, with a smile.
"Not much, but he stopped growlin'. It may have given him a new idea of the matter."
"How soon do you think of getting away, Obed?"
"As soon as we have sold the claim," answered the Yankee. "When it gets reported round the camp what we've found there'll be plenty that'll want to buy it on speculation28, you may be sure of that."
"I didn't think of that," said Harry, his eyes brightening. "We're luckier than I thought."
"Yes," answered Obed jocularly, "we're men of property now. I'm afraid we'll have to pay taxes ourselves when we get home."
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1
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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2
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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4
judiciously
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| adv.明断地，明智而审慎地 | |
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5
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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covetously
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| adv.妄想地，贪心地 | |
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7
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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8
entail
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| vt.使承担，使成为必要，需要 | |
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9
banishes
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的第三人称单数 ) | |
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10
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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11
dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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12
egress
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| n.出去；出口 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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14
sleeper
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| n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺 | |
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15
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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16
receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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17
awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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18
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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20
sleepers
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| n.卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环 | |
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21
drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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22
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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23
skunk
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| n.臭鼬，黄鼠狼；v.使惨败，使得零分；烂醉如泥 | |
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24
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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26
queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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27
royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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28
speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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