The Secret Valley by Clyde Robert Bulla

Author:Clyde Robert Bulla
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

The Golden Land

VII

The Nugget

Frank was the first one up in the morning. He and his father took bread and meat and cheese to eat when they were hungry. They took the pick and the pan.

“We’ll take the gun, too,” said Mr. Davis. “Yesterday I saw a bear.”

They said good-by to Mrs. Davis and Ellen. They left the tent city and started into the woods.

At first there was a trail. It was easy to follow. But soon the trail ended. They had to climb high banks. They jumped from one rock to another.

“See the marks on the trees?” said Mr. Davis. “I made them. When I follow them, I won’t get lost.”

They climbed a hill. They slid down the other side.

Frank saw a stream running between the rocks. He saw a hole dug by the water. In the hole was his father’s shovel.

“This is my claim,” said Mr. Davis.

They drank out of the stream. Then they went to work.

Frank dug up the dirt and sand. His father washed it out in the stream. All morning they worked. They found no gold.

They ate their bread and meat and cheese. Frank was glad to rest. The sun was hot, and digging the dirt was hard work.

He took off his shoes and stockings and kicked his feet in the stream. The cold water felt good on his toes.

He put on his shoes and stockings and walked down the stream. He was looking for colored rocks to take back to Ellen. Close to the water he saw something bright. It was nearly hidden in the sand.

He picked it up. At first he thought it was a rock. Then he saw that it was the color of gold.

“Father!” he cried. “Look!”

“What is it?” Mr. Davis ran to see. “Frank, it’s gold. It’s a gold nugget!” He took it in his hands. “It’s bigger than a hen’s egg!”

“I found it right here in the sand,” said Frank.

“Let’s look all around here,” said Mr. Davis. “There may be more nuggets.”

They looked in the sand. They looked among the rocks. For hours they looked, but they found no more gold.

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