They were startled, and brutus astounded, for he was fully persuaded George and Robinson had ceased to exist.  He was so dumfounded that Robinson walked up to him and took the gun out of his hands without any resistance on his part.  The others came round him, and Robinson demanded his pistols.

“What for?” said he.

Now at this very moment his eye fell upon that fabulous mass of gold they carried, and both his eyes opened, and a sort of shiver passed over him.  With ready cunning he looked another way, but it was too late.  Robinson had caught that furtive glance, and a chill came over him that this villain should have seen the prize, a thing to excite cupidity to frenzy.  Nothing now would have induced Robinson to leave him armed.

He replied, sternly:  “Because we are four to one, and we will hang you on the nearest tree if you don’t give them up.  And, now, what are you doing here?”

“I was only looking for my pal,” said brutus.

“Well, you won’t want a gun and pistols to look for your pal.  Which way are you going?”

“Into the bush.”

“Then mizzle!  That is the road.”

brutus moved gloomily away into the bush.

“There,” said Robinson, “he has turned bushranger.  I’ve disarmed him, and saved some poor fellow’s life and property.  Cover up the nugget, George.”

They went on, but presently Robinson had a thought.

“Jacky,” said he, “you saw that man; should you know him again?”

“Yes.”

“Jacky, that man is our enemy.  Could you track him by his footsteps without ever letting him see you?”

Jacky smiled superior.

“Then follow him and see where he goes, and whom he joins—­and come to the mine directly and tell me.”

Jacky’s eyes gleamed at this intelligence.  He sat down, and in a few turns of the hand painted his face war, and glided like a serpent on brutus’s trail.

The rest cleared the wood, and brought the nugget, safe hidden in their pocket-handkerchief, to camp.  They begged Jem to accept the fifty pounds, if he did not mind handling the price of blood.

Jem assured them he had no such scruples, and took it with a burst of thanks.

Then they made him promise faithfully not to mention to a soul about the monster nugget.  No more he did while he was sober, but, alas! some hours later, having a drop in his head, he betrayed the secret to one or two—­say forty.

Robinson pitched their tent and mounted guard over the nugget.  George was observed to be in a strange flutter.  He ran hither and thither.  Ran to the post-office—­ran to the stationer—­got paper—­drew up a paper—­found McLaughlan—­made him sign it—­went to Mr. Moore—­showed him Isaac’s voucher; on which Moore produced the horses, a large black horse with both bone and blood, and a good cob.

George was very much pleased with them, and asked what Levi had given for them.