Page 136 - In A New World

The would-be thief understood well, however, that there would be
difficulties in the way of accomplishing his design. Obed and the two boys

were broad awake, and half an hour--perhaps an hour, must elapse before
he could feel sure that they would be asleep. In the meantime it would be

best to keep away from the cabin, lest someone inside might see him
lurking near, and suspect his purpose.

While he is keeping watch from a distance, let us enter the cabin.

Obed and the boys are sitting on their rude pallets, congratulating
themselves on having secured the nugget, and removed it from the mine
unobserved. Harry had made a remark to that effect, when Obed Stackpole

responded, "Do you know, boys, I feel sort of uneasy to-night."

"Why?" asked Jack.

"I'm afraid someone might have seen us on our way from the mine."

"I couldn't see anybody," Harry remarked.

"Nor I, but there may have been someone, nevertheless. The fact is, I never
expected to be uneasy on account of my wealth, but that's the way the case

stands just at present. When we were poor I slept like a top."

"I suppose you wouldn't care to get rid of your care by throwing the nugget
away," Harry said with a smile.

"I'm not so uneasy as that yet, but I should feel a little safer if we and the
nugget could be transported to Melbourne in five minutes."

"Suppose someone did see us?" queried Jack.

"Then we may expect a visit some time tonight."

"One of us might remain awake, Obed."