When the matter had been thoroughly discussed and they knew just what they were going to do, they arose and walked slowly towards the cabin. They stopped on the way to shoot a few squirrels, and Godfrey, surprised at the accuracy of the little breech-loader, which seemed as light as a feather beside his long, heavy muzzle-loader, declared that he would have one exactly like it, just as soon as he received his share of the contents of the barrel. They held another short consultation when they reached the clearing, and after each had promised to be at the general’s barn as soon after dark as he could get there, Clarence started homeward, while Godfrey filled his pipe, and sat down to smoke and think. He was in such a fever of suspense that he never thought of getting himself any dinner, and even when supper time came, he could scarcely arouse himself from his air-castle building, long enough to eat his share of the corn-bread and squirrels. When it began to grow dark he grew more restless than ever, and his impatience to be at work increased every minute. He was not afraid of old Jordan’s haunt so long as he was in the presence of the general’s nephew, and neither was he any longer afraid of the work he might have to do before the barrel would be brought to light; for Clarence had discoursed in such glowing language of the comforts and pleasures that could be purchased for eighty thousand dollars, that Godfrey would have thought nothing of digging up twenty acres with a single spade, if he could obtain that amount of money by so doing. “Dannie,” said Godfrey, who saw that the boy was loitering about as if waiting for something, “it’s time fur us to be lookin’ fur that bar’l agin, I reckon.” “Wal, ye can look then, if ye want to,” was the dutiful reply, “but I don’t stir one inch. I don’t want to see ole Jordan’s haunt agin, an’ I don’t b’lieve the bar’l’s thar, nohow.” “Ye’ve hit centre agin, Dannie, like ye allers do,” replied his father. “I don’t b’lieve it’s thar nuther; an’ if it is, ten acres is too much ground fur two fellers to dig up.” “Then whar be yer goin’?” asked Dan, as Godfrey arose to his feet and picked up his hat. “Wal, I ain’t agoin’ nowhars; but I can’t sleep arter losin’ them eighty thousand, so I am goin’ out to walk about a bit afore goin’ to bed. Ye go in an’ stay with yer mam, like a good boy, an’ yer poor ole pop’ll go out an’ think over his hard luck.”