All things seemed to favor the tramp. Ernest stopped when he came to the oak tree, and it was evident that this was the spot of which he was in search. "Why, that's where I was lyin' the other night!" thought Burns. "If I had only knowed! Why, the gold was right under me all the time." He watched with eagerness while Ernest was digging. He no longer doubted that this was the place where the gold was hidden. Ernest could have no other object in digging in this place. "I wonder how much there is," thought Burns. "There ought to be as much as a thousand dollars. Perhaps there's two or three. But even if there is only a thousand it will set me on my feet. I'll soon get out of this neighborhood. I'll go to Chicago or New York, and I'll live in clover. I'll make up for lost time." When Ernest found the roll of coins, and taking them out put them in his pocket, he was not disappointed, for he knew what to expect, but Tom Burns was in dismay. "Only a hundred dollars!" he thought. "What's a hundred dollars? The old man ought to be ashamed of himself!" However, one thing was certain. A hundred dollars was better than nothing. It would take him to Chicago and enable him to live in comfort for a while. Besides, he might multiply it many times at the gaming table, for Tom Burns had been a gambler in his day. He certainly did not propose to disdain the sum which fortune had placed in his way because it was so small. Ernest put the gold pieces in his pocket and turned to go back to the cabin, when a voice reached him. "Look here, boy, I'll trouble you to hand over that money!" CHAPTER VI A FRIEND IN NEED Ernest turned and regarded the tramp in amazement. "What do you mean?" he demanded. "I want that money you just dug up," replied Tom Burns boldly. Instantly Ernest comprehended his danger. He was a stout boy, but the tramp was a large man, weighing probably fifty pounds more than himself. The boy felt that in strength he was no match for the thief who confronted him. Yet he could not bear the thought of allowing himself to be robbed. Left penniless, how could he carry out the plans which he had in view? He tried to gain time. "Do you want to rob me?" he asked. "I have just as much right to that money as you," said the tramp. "How do you make that out?" "The man who put it there owed me money." "Do you think I am a fool, to believe that ridiculous story?" "You'd better be careful how you talk!" said Burns, menacingly. "Then all I can say is that you have told a falsehood. You are the man, I suppose, who entered our cabin at night and stole money out of a trunk." "I don't know anything about your trunk!" said Burns. "But I have no time to talk; I want that money!" Ernest looked about him, hoping to see some one to whom he could appeal for help, but no one appeared in sight. Next he looked at the tramp, to note if he were armed. To his relief, Burns did not appear to have any weapon with him.