drive to drive into the bottom, and going on his knees threw aside the
lumps of mullock indicated by the boy. Dick followed him holding the
candle, and watching his movements, anxiously at first, and then with
terror. He flung himself down beside the detective, and plunged his hand
amongst the rubble, then ceased and faced the detective, mute,
despairing.

'Well, well,' cried Downy in alarm, 'what is it?

'Gone!' whispered Dick.

'Gone? Are you sure? We have not searched yet.'

'It's gone!'

'You may have made a mistake. Hardy, Mc Knight, lend a hand here.'

'No good,' said Dick, 'it's gone.--it's stolen. I put it right here,
coverin' it with this flat junk an' a lot o' small stuff. I know--I know
quite well.'

Harry and McKnight went into the shaft with shovels, and turned over the
dirt stowed there to the depth of two feet, but the bag was gone.

'Show a light here,' Downy said suddenly, looking up at Dick from the
slab on which he was seated above the two workers. He took the candle and
examined the edge of the slab closely.

'You said the bag containing the stolen gold was made of hide.'