"Yes," cried Chris; "and look there, Ned--fish."

"What about them?"

"The river's full, and I saw plenty leaping, waiting for rod and line or net."

"That's good," cried Ned.

"Oh yes; we shan't starve," said Griggs. "But let's see, how far used we to be from the other settlement?"

"Forty miles," replied the doctor.

"But suppose that is deserted, the same as this?"

"Then we shall be quite a hundred from the next."

"A hundred," said Griggs dryly. "Well, that seems horribly close and crowding one up like after living as we've been lately. It seems to me that if we liked to stop here now we might have the pick of the whole place, and as many patches as we like to take up."

"What about the old owners?" said Bourne.

"They've thrown up the game and gone--back to England, perhaps. I don't believe any one is ever likely to put in claims, but we could soon get that settled by the State law. I've nearly made up my mind to start afresh, doctor. You see, everything is going to be quite different; but there's one thing I can't understand. Climates don't change all at once, but here's this place boiling over, as one might say, with plenty now, while a few years ago we were only able to grow enough to feed the insects and blight. How do you account for that?"

"I can only give you what I surmise to be the case," replied the doctor.

"We were tempted here by seeing how beautiful and fruitful everything was."

"Yes; everything but what we planted, and that tried to die out of the way as fast as it could. Well, sir, how was that?"

"Simply because the things we planted were strange to the land. All they wanted was time--years in which to root down to the best soil. If we had waited longer they would have appeared as good as they are now."

"That sounds well, sir," said Griggs, "and I should like to hear a little more about it, but I think we've got as much to think about as we can bear to-night. What say you?"

"That I shall be thankful for a good night's rest," was the reply, and soon after all was silent within the lonely ranch, both the lads lying listening to the varied sounds without, for to one of them it seemed as if all the wild creatures of the forest were holding a meeting to inquire into the fresh invasion of a tract of land out of which they had been driven years before, but to which they had returned upon its being deserted, while now the question was in respect of a new invasion, and whether those who had taken possession intended to stay.

CHAPTER FIFTY SIX.

LIKE TO GO AGAIN?

Chris Lee had the impression next morning that he had lain for hours listening to the strange cries of wild creatures which had once more made the plantations their home, and he smiled at the idea that had come to him respecting a meeting, when he rose from the blanket and saddle bed, upon which he had slept better than he remembered ever to have done in his life.

His first look was at the place Ned had occupied; but he was already gone, and upon hurrying out he came upon him just visible as he forced his way through the tall growth with an orange in each hand and half-a-dozen tucked into his breast.

"Morning," he shouted. "I've been down to the river. It seems full of fish."

"That's good news," cried Chris. "Isn't it? But look here, there'll be a long talk over breakfast this morning about--Seen Griggs?"

"No. But why will they talk about him over breakfast?"

"Stuff! I didn't mean that. He came to the river with me, and he's gone now to light a fire and boil the kettle. He wants to talk to you as he did to me."

"What about?"

"What about? Why, about this place. He's red-hot over it, and says it would be madness to go away now and give up real gold for what may after all be nothing better than a dream. What do you think?"

"I?" said Chris, laughing. "That I've had enough fighting and tramping to last me for many years to come."

"Then if I say I'll stay, will you?"

"I don't know yet," said Chris.

"What! Why, you're never going to run back?"

"I'm not going to run back, nor run forward," replied Chris. "I'm going to do just what my father does, and in spite of your talk I believe you'll stand by Mr Bourne."

"Of course," cried Ned; "but he's sure to say he'll stay. There's only your father and Wilton on the other side, so we shall be four to two if you'll stand by me. Now what do you say?"

"Nothing at present; let's wait."

Ned pressed for a definite promise, but Chris remained firm and went to help Griggs in his preparation of the first breakfast that had been eaten upon the old hearth for two years.

It was rough; but appet.i.te would have made up for that, only it seemed wanting, and the steaming coffee and tough damper bread remained almost untasted for a time, every one being thoughtful and silent.

At last the doctor spoke.

"Look here," he said, "I've got something upon my mind, and judging from your looks it seems to me that every one is not only troubled in the same way, but eager to get that something off. Am I right in coming to the conclusion that you are all thinking of the same thing?"

"I guess I am," said Griggs.

"I'm sure I am," said Bourne.

"I'm thinking that the sooner we get to work the better," said Wilton.

"That's soon settled, then," said the doctor, "for there is no occasion to ask the boys--it's written plainly in both their faces. We all think that it would be madness to talk of leaving such a home as we can make of this."

"All!" came in chorus, and then the appet.i.te for breakfast, while they worked afterwards as they had never worked before to master and drive back the encroaching forest; fetch stores with their mule-train from the distant port; rebuild and restore; and in due time plant, gather, and farm, to provide the necessaries of life, till Golden Hollow, as it was renamed, became a veritable Eden--a home which, attracted others, till as time went on the peril finders' struggle to grasp at the phantom gold seemed to grow more and more like some exciting dream.

"Ever think of the shooting now, boys?" said Griggs one day, as he stood by the side of the great green basket of fruit he had gathered and just set down, to turn over some half-a-dozen that were beginning to glow like gold.

"Not often," said Ned, "but it will come at times."

"Do you?" said Griggs, turning to Chris, who looked thoughtful.

"Yes: I did only yesterday," was the reply. "I was at the bottom of the big peach-orchard, when I regularly jumped, for there was a sharp whizz close to my ear, and I began to think of the Indians hiding behind every bush."

"But it couldn't have been an arrow," cried Griggs.

"No; only a hawk making a dash at one of those blue-breasted birds; but it set me thinking of arrows flying, and using one's rifle too."

"Ah, rough times those," said Griggs, picking up two oranges, and then a third, to keep them, juggler fashion, following one another through the air. "Like to go again?"