The three walked silently forward for a considerable distance, when Gaylor paused, and, stepping in front, so as to face the two, he as a man speaks when in earnest.
“See here Jim and Ned, as I believe you call each other, I’ve got a few words to say to you. I’m a pretty bad man, but when one does me a kindness, I’m like an Indian, and don’t forget it. I want to thank you Ned, again, for what you tried to do. This here darkey has been the means of saving my life, when I’d given up. I spoke mean to him awhile ago, I want to ask his pardon for that, and give him my thanks.”
“Gorry, don’t say nuffin’ ’bout it,” said Jim, drawing his huge hand across his eyes, “’tain’t worth spoken ’bout. It’s all right.”
“I’m glad to hear it. When you hear me speak again as I did of a black man awhile ago, it will be when I hain’t got any senses left. But see here, I’ve got something I’m going to do for you. You have another man with you, haven’t you? One who is the leader.”
“Yes; my brother George.”
“Take me to him.”
“Hold on,” interrupted Jim, “I’d like to get dat gun ob mine. I know where I left it up among de grass ’long de where dey lassoed me.”
“Lead on then.”
The three from their course, and soon reached the stream, where Jim had found his gold, and the Mohaves had found him. A short search discovered his gun, and they started homeward. The distance was considerable, and it was an hour before they reached the wood, where George Inwood was overjoyed to see them.
A few minutes’ talk made everything plain to him.
“You see, George Gaylor ain’t the man to give a friend the go by,” said that personage himself. “And I’ll prove to you that I mean what I say. I s’pose you’re in these parts looking for gold?”
“That is what has us hither,” replied George, with a smile.
“Have you found much?”
“Not a great deal; we have had middling good fortune.”
“I s’pose maybe now I hain’t got noffin’,” said Jim, as he drew his two nuggets from his pocket, and displayed them to the wondering gaze of his friends.
“You seem to be made of gold,” said George; “you know how you put your hand in your pocket, and brought it out, when we bought our horses; but where did you obtain it?”
“Maybe I was digging it out ob de sand when de Ingins dere ropes ober my neck—maybe I didn’t got it dere.”
“Is there any more?”
“Don’t tink dere is.”
“Whether there is or not, don’t matter,” said Gaylor, “I’ll show you more gold to-day than you ever seen before, and all that you will ever care about seeing.”
All looked at him with a look which said they failed to take in his meaning.
“Just come with me—you will see it is no .”
And the whole party started toward the Island, Gaylor himself leading the way.
At first sight, George Inwood recognized Gaylor as the man whom he had viewed through the telescope, and who had fired his gun at their friends. He did not deem it best, however, to refer to these circumstances, as he placed full faith in the honesty of the man’s intentions.
Reaching the lake, he searched awhile along the shore for a canoe. He had great difficulty in finding it, but succeeded at last, and then, asking his friends to await his return, he paddled rapidly across the lake, and, landing on the shore, entered the thick wood. He was with his companions, and remained away a good while. While they were watching for his return, Jim exclaimed in great excitement:
“See dar! look at de island! I’s agwine to leabe when spooks comes about.”
The island, which at first sight was lying along shore, could now be seen slowly approaching the center of the lake, and at the same moment, the form of Gaylor was , as he his pole. This seemed to convince Jim that there was nothing supernatural about it, and he consented to remain.
Reaching a point near the middle, the mass of shrubbery came to a stand still, and Gaylor then put off in his canoe.
“Jump in,” said he, as it lightly touched the , “it will hold you all. I’ll show you something which you have never seen.”
They stepped carefully into the small canoe, and it sank to its gunwales with the unusual weight. But Gaylor managed it , and a few minutes later they all stepped upon the Enchanted Island.
“Now, let me tell you a little story,” said their friend. “Some months ago a party of five of us came down through these parts looking for gold. Reaching this lake we started across it in a boat, and near the middle discovered several yellow nuggets lying on the bottom. I dove down and brought them up, and found them to be gold. We soon found there was any quantity lying around loose, and, of course, we to get all we could. But while we had come upon a fortune, there were several bad things in the way of bringing it up. The country was full of Indians, and there were white men wandering over the country. If any of them should get news of our windfall, it would be all over with us. So, after thinking over it, we hit upon a plan. We made a frame-work of logs, and then covered it over with green sod, and trees, so as to make it look just like an island. Then we sometimes fires, so as to scare any one who saw it. This we floated right over the spot where we saw the gold, and began bringing it up. We had to dive for it after we had managed to loosen a portion[84] with our poles. We had so much trouble in getting it, that one of our men started to San Francisco for tools to answer our purpose. But we never heard of him again, and we suppose the Mohaves got track of him. Howsumever, we worked away, and the amount of it is, we have all made an independent fortune, and there is enough left for you. We used to float this at night, as we had a good hiding place there. I have started my party north to San Francisco, and I expect to join them in half an hour. No one knows this secret but you. You can work here as long as you please. You seem to have the good will of the Mohaves, but look out for white men. Be very careful to let no one see you at work. Now, if you will only take me ashore, I will leave you alone.”
George Inwood paddled their friend to land, where they bid farewell to each other, and he returned to the Enchanted Island, and began work.
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