Page:Old ninety-nine's cave.djvu/73

 Mike looked relieved. "Shure, Schquire is after schpakin' the truth. So help me, God, niver agin will I schpile the works of God Almighty!" he said.

Mr. Genung was inclined to be provoked, but Hernando explained the exceedingly dangerous position and how fortunate Mike had been to escape with his life, and somewhat ashamed, he asked what was to be done next.

"Put in a blast," replied Hernando.

Silently they emerged from the cave and followed Hernando around the eastern side of Wawanda where the fissure was through which they had entered Excavations were begun in earnest and a heavy charge put in. The report which followed must have startled the good people of Nootwyck. It tore a great piece out of the eastern side of Wawanda and when the smoke cleared Hernando was almost beside himself with joy at the result of the explosion. Like the cave, the whole inner surface was full of bits of gold and some spongy masses intermixed with leaves of yellow metal. Hernando picked some of the