Page 158 - In A New World

"A pesky thief sneaked in, and carried it off, as he thought."

"How could he think he carried it off when he did not?"

Upon this Obed explained the trick to which he had resorted, and the
commissioner laughed heartily.

"Do you know the man--the thief, I mean?" he asked.

"Yes, it is, a man that has been prowlin' round the camp for some weeks,
not doin' anything, but watchin' for a chance to appropriate the property of
some lucky miner. I'd like to see the fellow's face when he opens the

handkerchief this morning, and finds the rock."

"It appears you have lost a handkerchief, at any rate," said the
commissioner, with a smile.

"He's welcome to it," answered Obed, "if it will comfort him any. I brought
it away from home two years ago, and now I can afford to buy another."

By this time the nugget had been carried into the office and exposed to
view.

"It is a splendid specimen," said the commissioner admiringly. "It is

certainly the largest that has ever been found in this camp."

"Has any been found before?" asked Harry.

"Yes; six months ago a Scotch miner, named Lindsay, found one weighing

twenty-two pounds and some ounces."

"Is he here now?"

"Yes, and without a shilling."

"Didn't his nugget benefit him any then?" asked Harry.