and tell Mr. Wright what
we've struck."

"Yes, an' before to-morrow night he'd own this whole tract. It would be
wiser to see what Bill an' Joe think about the chances of raisin'
money."

"Very well, we'll talk with them. It won't do to leave this uncovered,
an' I'm in a hurry to get back."

The earth was scraped, and above this the boys strewed branches and
leaves until one might have searched a long while without discovering
the secret.

Then, walking at their best pace, the successful prospectors continued
on toward Farley's, trying in vain to suppress their excitement.

Those whom they wished to consult were at the mine, and without even
stopping to tell Mrs. Byram of their discovery they went directly to the
slope.

Bill and Joe were in the second level, at some distance from the other
workmen when the boys arrived.

"What do you think of that?" Fred asked, excitedly, as he held out one
of his specimens.

Bill, supposing he was to see a rare sight, brought his cap-lamp close
to the object for a second, and then said angrily:

"Haven't you boys got anything better to do than bring coal in here for
us to look at? We see enough of that stuff without luggin' it around in
our pockets."

"But this didn't come from Farley's."

"Well, s'posin it didn't, what of that?" and Bill threw the coal far
down the drift.

"Not much, except that Sam and I found a vein three miles from any
settlement."

"What?" both the miners cried in the same breath, and Bill ran to pick
up what he had thrown away so contemptuously.

Fred began and Sam ended the story of the "find," and while they were
talking Bill turned the specimen over and over, saying when they
concluded:

"If as good coal as that shows at the surface it must be a big vein."

"It is, but how can we take advantage of the discovery? Sam thinks the
land could be bought for a thousand dollars."

"Then you must buy it."

"How could we raise so much money?"

"People don't allers pay cash for what they buy. You might get it for
two or three hundred dollars down, with a mortgage for the balance."

"Even then I don't see how it can be done."

"Nor I jest now, but we'll figure the thing out to-night at your house.
Joe an' me will be there after supper. Don't tell anyone except your
mother, 'nd when you boys are rich I speak for the job of breaker
boss."

Then Bill and Joe, hardly less excited than their younger companions,
resumed the interrupted labor, a