human
How did she pan out tew-day, Dick?
gpt
Well, and Dickson hesitated and glanced swiftly and just a little suspiciously around the circle of faces. Already the possession of much gold was robbing him of some of his open, free-hearted confidence in his fellow men, was drawing tight the strings of caution.
human
Well, he continued, after a swift warning glance into the face of his wife,
gpt
I fear that we have about come to the bottom of the pocket. Not much doing to-day,
human
Oh, Dick, and Mrs. Dickson turned a reproving face to her husband,
gpt
and she held up before the astonished eyes of the circle a huge gold nugget.
human
It weighs exactly five pounds and three and three-quarters ounces, and is worth over a thousand dollars, and the Little Woman's face glowed with triumph.
gpt
There, and she turned a pair of happy but defiant eyes on her husband,
human
I just couldn't keep a thing like that to myself; and I shouldn't want to, if I could; and I told Dick that I couldn't and I wouldn't keep it from you and I didn't, and her eyes sparkled merrily.
gpt
But Dick is getting a little afraid that, if it becomes known how big our find really is it might tempt some scoundrel to try and get the gold away from us.
human
Not meaning you fellows, of course,
gpt
Shore, we understand an' without any explainin', broke in Ham heartily.
human
An', Leetle Woman, Dick's more'n half right 'bout bein' some cautious who you tells y'ur good luck tew. Thar was a miner murdered for his gold 'bout a week ago nigh Sacremento City; an' th' murderers worn't caught an' might be a-snoopin' 'round Hangtown right now.
gpt
Mercy! and Mrs. Dickson turned a whitening face to Ham.
human
Why, there is hardly a lock on a door in all Hangtown; and most of the miners don't even take the trouble to hide their gold-dust securely. I thought everybody knew that the climate of Hangtown wasn't good for the health of robbers.
gpt
An' so it ain't for them that gits caught, answered Ham.
human
But humans will risk anything, even their lives for gold. Why, it wasn't more'n a week ago that we run Skoonly out of town for stealin'! So, I reckon, 'tain't more'n good hoss-sense for you tew be some cautious now that you are gittin' a fortune in gold. Not that thar's any harm in a-tellin' old friends like us, 'cause we knows enough tew keep mum 'bout it, and Ham glanced warningly around the circle of interested faces.
gpt
But 'twouldn't be good sense tew let th' hull town know th' size of y'ur pile. It's tew goll durned big an' temptin'. Not that I wants tew scare you, Leetle Woman. Only it's jest good hoss-religion not tew tempt y'ur feller mortals more'n it's necessary. Now forgit th' gold an' give us a song.