"This is the worst yet," grumbled Bob. He was wild with excitement to reach the cavern and explore it thoroughly. The others were in a similar condition of mind. For all they knew there might be more big nuggets there awaiting them. They had to remain where they were until about eleven o'clock. Then a slight wind sprang up and the mist was driven away as if by magic. By noon the sun was out as strong as ever. Mark took a careful survey of the mountain and then located the spot where the cavern was, and all set out once more. They had to walk around two deep gullies and climb some extra-slippery rocks, but at last reached the landslide. "There are my sticks and there is the cavern," said Mark. "Hurrah!" shouted Bob, enthusiastically. "Now for more big nuggets!" "Don't be too sure," warned Maybe Dixon. "Maybe there ain't another nugget near the spot." "Oh, there must be!" cried Si. "It's just the place for 'em!" They got down the landslide in short order and hurried to the cavern. Then the lantern was lit, and also two candles, and they walked inside. A brief glance around showed Mark that everything was as he had left it. Without delay, Maybe Dixon sank his pick deep in the ground and his shovel followed. "In the name of us four partners I stake this claim!" he cried. "Now let them greasers or their friends come on if they dare!" "But we must set out regular stakes, if the spot is any good," said Bob. "Right you are, lad, but we'll take a look around first." Si was already at work and the others soon followed. They scooped a large quantity of sand from the hole at the back of the cavern and then dislodged several small rocks. "Look! look!" cried Bob, presently, and brought up a nugget half the size of the one found by Mark. "There's a couple of thousand dollars for you!" "And here is another!" came from Si, bringing up a lump equally large. "And two more," added Maybe Dixon, holding them up. "Boys, this is the banner find of this district!" "We'll be rich!" cried Mark. "We'll be rich! Oh, but ain't I glad!" They continued to dig and scrape away in feverish haste and soon brought to light half a dozen small nuggets. Then they reached another pocket, filled with sand and coarse gold grains. "The richest kind of washing," said Maybe Dixon. "Oh, we can't stop to wash now!" cried Si. "Let us look for nuggets!" And they continued to labor, harder than ever. By nightfall they were completely exhausted, but supremely happy. They had unearthed twenty-four nuggets of various sizes and shapes. Maybe Dixon surveyed each with care and counted up the probable value. "I can't strike it very close," said he. "Fer we don't know the quality of 'em. But I should say we had all of thirty thousand dollars' worth o' gold here. And more'n likely that sand will pan out ten thousand dollars' worth more." "Forty thousand dollars!" gasped Si. "We'll surely be rich now! Oh, what will my folks say when they hear of this!"