Page:Allan Dunn--Dead Man's Gold.djvu/208

194 "We'll wait to see what Larkin has to show us. There's a third move and that's mine. It hinges on finding the placer-creek but it has another secret tacked on to it. And a good one."

"I ain't bin figgerin' with a heap of enthusiasm over thet placer of yores," said Harvey. "I ain't strong for dry-placers. If you can git water to 'em, or them to water, it's different, but they's a heap of gold scattered round thet's still lyin' loose for lack of water. Dry-washin' is wasteful and it ain't often the wind is strong enough to winnow the dust. Not but what yore specimens was promisin' enough but if I was you I wouldn't bank extry strong on no dry-placer. No, sirree."

"I'm not," said Stone. "Here comes Larkin."

The Cockney came up to them disconsolate.

"I lost 'im," he said. "Giv' me the slip. Too many rocks to keep 'im in sight. But 'e's gone plumb hover to the south cliffs. That is I trailed 'im's far as the sand showed 'is tracks."

"Going to climb for a better view," suggested Stone. But the minutes passed and Healy did not make his appearance. They discussed a search-party, thinking he might have got lost or hurt in some way, when he reappeared smoking the end of a cigarette which he threw aside as he saw them. His face was flushed and his eyes shining with excitement.

"Found it!" he said. "It was close by all the time, but it kept me guessing to locate it. Come on." He swung on his heels to lead the way. Larkin pulled