"Oh, yes," he replied, "you can depend on me. I won't let anyone else have the money."
The tramp laughed again. To him it seemed like a delicious joke.
He did not seem to be in a hurry to possess himself of the booty, as he felt sure he could have it at any time. It was a good joke that Gerald seemed quite unsuspicious of his intentions.
"How much gold might there be in the box?" he asked.
"Not far from a thousand dollars," said Gerald, frankly.
The tramp smacked his lips. He had never before bagged so much booty. It really seemed like a big stroke of luck.
"A thousand dollars!" he repeated. "That's a big sum!"
"Suppose you and I divide it. That'll be five hundred apiece."
"I see you are joking," said Gerald. "It isn't ours. It belongs to Mr. Nixon."
"He's an old man. He don't need it. Besides, he has plenty more."
"Has he really?" asked Gerald, innocently.
"To be sure! Everybody knows that the old man is a miser. Why, I've no doubt he is worth ten thousand dollars."
"Nor have I any doubt," said Gerald to himself. "But, of course, that is none of our business."
"Look here, youngster; you seem to be as simple as they make 'em."
"Why?" asked Gerald, in affected surprise.
"You can't see that I am a bad man, and have made up my mind to have that gold."
"You don't really mean it? You are trying to frighten me."
"No more nonsense! Stop the horse, and I'll relieve you of the box."
"Oh, this is terrible! Won't you take ten dollars and let me go?"
"No; I must have the whole. Stop the horse, I say!"
With an appearance of great reluctance Gerald obeyed directions and halted the horse.
Gerald allowed him to take out the box. Then he whipped up the horse, leaving the tramp, as he supposed, master of the situation.
"The boy is pretty well scared," he said to himself.
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THE tramp was only amused by Gerald's precipitate flight. There was no object in pursuing him, as he had obtained what he sought—the box of gold coins. He was in a hurry to open it, and realize his good fortune. He felt that Fortune had been kind to him. When once the gold was transferred to his pockets, he would leave the neighborhood, as he knew very well that by the miners' code the robbery would be punished with death.