Page 162 - In A New World

and droll remarks stimulated the bidding when it became dull, and did not
declare the claim sold till it was clear no higher bid could be obtained.

"Three hundred pounds, and sold to Frank Scott," he concluded. "Mr. Scott,

I congratulate you. I calculate you've made a pretty good investment, and I
shouldn't wonder if you'd find another nugget within a week. 'Birds of a
feather flock together,' as my writing-book says, and 'it never rains but it

pours.'"

Frank Scott came forward and made arrangements for the payment of the
sum he had offered. Within five minutes he was offered an advance of
twenty-five pounds for his bargain, which put him in good humor, though

he declined it. I may as well say here, since we are soon to bid farewell to
Bendigo, that the claim yielded him double the amount of his investment,

and though this was not up to his expectations, he had no reason to regret
his purchase.

The little crowd of miners were just separating when two new-comers
appeared on the scene. They were the well-matched pair who had met

earlier in the morning at the deserted cabin. For convenience' sake we will
call them Colson and Ropes, the former being the man who had stolen the
nugget, as he supposed.

"What's all this crowd?" said Colson in a tone of curiosity.

Ropes put the question to Tom Lewis, who chanced to be passing.

"Haven't you heard about the nugget?" asked Lewis.

"What nugget?" asked Colson innocently.

"That slab-sided Yankee, Obed Stackpole, found a nugget last night--a

regular monster--and he's been selling his claim. I bid for it, but I didn't bid
high enough."

"Where's the nugget?" asked Colson eagerly.