Larkin glared at them with a white face. “We won’t quarrel about it, boys,” he said, after a time. “There’s plenty for all, and we must hang together till we’re out of danger. I’ll take what you think is right, for my share.” “I’ll take my third, an’ no less,” growled Daggett. No one looked at him. Each seemed to be busy with his own thoughts. Bryonia had chosen this especial log to hide behind, because the robbers had placed their sack of provisions upon it. While listening to the conversation I have recorded, the black had stealthily reached up his hand and managed to extract from the bundle a tin of corned beef and a handful of ship’s biscuits. Then he wriggled carefully away, and in a few minutes had rejoined Nux and me, where we hid among the trees. I think no food has ever tasted quite so delicious to me as did that tinned beef and stale biscuit. When divided amongst three there was little enough in each share, but it sufficed to allay our hunger and give us fresh strength and courage. After we had eaten, Bry decided to go back again for more, since another opportunity to purloin from the bundle of provisions might not be offered us. As it was very dark by this time, Nux and I crept nearer, to where a big rock lay; and here, hidden by the deep shadows, we were able to distinguish clearly all that transpired around the camp fire. Bry being between us and the light, we could follow his creeping form with our eyes until we saw him lying safely hidden behind the log, with the bundle of food just over him. By this time all the robbers had lain down to sleep except Larkin, who had taken the watch and sat moodily smoking beside the fire, on which he tossed now and then a handful of fuel. Suddenly, as he looked toward the sack that rested upon the log, he saw it move. In an instant a pistol shot rang out, and the robbers sprang to their feet with cries of alarm. “Somebody’s behind that log!” shouted Larkin, who was himself trembling with fear. At once Bryonia arose to his feet, stepped over the log, and calmly advanced into the light of the fire, holding out his hand in greeting and smiling broadly into the angry faces confronting him. “Don’ shoot poor Bry,” he said, pleadingly. “I’se run ’way to j’ine you.” “Run away!” exclaimed Larkin, while the others looked at the black suspiciously. “Why did you do that?” “So’s I won’ haf to work any mo’,” answered Bry. “Dey’s jest killin’ me in dat camp, luggin’ bags o’ sand an’ washin’ gold all day.” “Who came with you?” asked Daggett. “Nobody ’t all,” declared Bry. “I seen yo’ all leave de camp, an’ so I crep’ along after yo’. Wouldn’t have let yo’ know I was here, sure ’nough, but I got so hungry. I couldn’t stand it no longer, so I tried to steal somefin’ to eat, an’ Mars Larkin he shot de gun at me.” “How did you know we had quit the camp for good?” enquired Pete, in a surly tone.