They were all in high spirits. They were no longer penniless adventurers, but, though not rich, were possessed2 of enough gold to make them feel so. Now that they were well fixed3 they were all filled with a strong desire to see their home across the sea.
"The very first thing I shall do will be to pay off the mortgage on dad's farm," said Mr. Stackpole. "I want to see him a free man, with a home that can't be taken from him. Then I'll look after the other matter."
"You are right, Obed. I only wish I had a father to help and care for," said Harry soberly.
"You have a mother, Jack."
"Yes, but I shall have to be careful about giving her money, for her husband would get it away from her before long."
"Well, boys, we won't borrow trouble before the time comes. For all I know Suke Stanwood may have got tired of waitin' for me, and married some other feller."
"In that case, Obed, I suppose you would die of a broken heart."
Two days elapsed before Obed and his party started on their return trip. Meanwhile Colson and Ropes had disappeared. The boys had expected to see them about the camp, but they had vanished.
"I wonder what has become of them?" said Harry, just as they were starting.
"I reckon they're hatchin' some new mischief8, wherever they are," returned Obed composedly. "You maybe sure they're not engaged in any honest work."
"Perhaps Colson is trying to sell his nugget," suggested Jack with a smile.
"He's welcome to all he can get for it," said Obed.
Obed was very near the truth in his conjecture9. Their greed was excited by thoughts of the nugget which our three friends had discovered, and their brains were busied with plans for obtaining possession of it. The chances didn't seem very encouraging. It was under strong escort, and it would be sheer madness for the two to attack an armed party. It would require a much larger force than they could command to make an attack at all practicable.
With no special plans, but with the hope that something would turn up in their favor, the two men started for Melbourne in advance of the government party. They were indebted for the requisite10 funds to a successful theft by Colson, who was an expert in his line. It is unnecessary to chronicle their daily progress. We will look in upon them on the fourth day.
They were making toilsome progress, over the boggy11 road, when all at once they were confronted by three bushrangers headed by Fletcher.
"Surrender, or you are dead men!" exclaimed Fletcher, with a boldness which will be easily understood when it is considered that his force outnumbered the travellers two to one.
Neither Colson nor Ropes appeared to be frightened. Indeed, they were looking for such an encounter.
"All right, gentlemen," said Ropes quietly. "We are quite ready to surrender."
"Empty your pockets," was the next order.
"All right again!" said Ropes. "I am sorry to say we haven't much to surrender."
"Is this all you have?" asked Fletcher, frowning when a pound and ten shillings were delivered to him as their united contributions to the bushrangers' fund.
"We haven't a penny more."
A search, however, failed to bring to light anything more.
"Why, you poor tramps!" exclaimed Fletcher in disgust. "You are unworthy the attention of gentlemen."
"Perhaps not, captain," answered Colson. "May I have a word with you in private?"
Not without suspicion Fletcher granted this unexpected request, and stepped aside with Colson a few paces, taking care, however, to keep near enough to his party to insure his safety.
"I have no money to give you," replied Colson, "but I have information that will enable you to obtain a great deal."
"What is your object in telling me this?" demanded Fletcher, still suspiciously.
"The fact is, my friend and I want to join with you in the enterprise, and get a fair share of the booty."
"Do you wish to join our band, then?"
"Well, not permanently14, but for a little while."
"Out with the information, then!"
"Will you agree to our terms?"
"What are they?"
"We want half of the prize."
"Not far from a hundred thousand dollars."
"Give particulars," he said.
"A big nugget is on the way to Melbourne, or will be in a day or two. It was found at Bendigo. I don't know how much it will net, but probably seventy-five thousand dollars. Then there is a considerable amount of dust besides."
"Who is to carry it? Is it in the hands of a private party?"
"No, it is under government escort."
Fletcher's countenance17 changed.
"That is a different matter," he said. "There is danger in attacking a government party."
"Think of the big sum at stake."
"It would require the co-operation of the whole band."
"Suppose it does."
"There will be more to divide it among. The captain would not agree for a moment to give away half."
"Say a third, then."
"I am not authorized18 to make any bargain. That will be for the captain to decide. You had better tell me all you know about it, and I will lay it before the captain and secure you the best terms I can on conditions——"
"Well?"
"That you give me quarter of your share."
"That is unreasonable," said Colson, disappointed.
"Then go ahead and rob the government train yourself."
Colson saw that he was helpless, and must submit to any terms proposed. He accordingly signified his assent19.
"Very well, then," said Fletcher, "you may come with us, and I will introduce you to the captain. By the way, who found the nugget? You have not told me that."
"A Yankee and two boys."
"What was the Yankee's name?" asked Fletcher eagerly.
"Stackpole—Obed Stackpole."
Fletcher whistled.
"I know the man," he said. "The boys are about sixteen—one a sailor?"
"Yes."
"I know them all, and I owe them all a grudge20. There is nothing I should like better than to take all they have and leave them penniless."
"I don't like them myself," said Colson, thinking this was the way to curry21 favor with his new acquaintance.
"You know them also?"
"Yes; they have treated me meanly."
Colson probably referred to their substituting a common rock for the rich nugget, and so subjecting him to mortification22 and disappointment.
Fletcher asked him a few more questions, and then with the new accessions plunged23 into the woods, and led his party to the headquarters of the bushrangers.
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1
commissioner
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| n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员 | |
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2
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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4
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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5
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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6
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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7
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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8
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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10
requisite
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| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
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11
boggy
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| adj.沼泽多的 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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13
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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14
permanently
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| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
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sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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16
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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17
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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18
authorized
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| a.委任的，许可的 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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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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21
curry
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| n.咖哩粉，咖哩饭菜；v.用咖哩粉调味，用马栉梳，制革 | |
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22
mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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23
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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