Anne grabbed the ax and held it aloft ready to strike, while Barbara
stood wringing her hands in despair. By this time Polly stuck her head
out of the opening, but neither Barbara nor Anne recognized the black
face--her voice alone told them it was Polly.
"Oh, my dear child! Are you badly hurt?" screamed Anne, dropping the ax
and pulling Polly forth, Eleanor crawling directly after her.
"Gold! Gold! GOLD! See--lots of it! Mountains of it!" yelled Eleanor,
trying to drag her nuggets from the boot without untying the strings.
"Oh, Anne, we found a gold mine! A great big cave full of gold!" cried
Polly, managing to untie the strings.
"Poor children! Are you daffy?" exclaimed Anne, not sure whether to cry
or laugh.
"You'll go daffy when, you see that cave--all shining gold!" laughed
Eleanor, handing her nugget to the curious sister.
"See here, Anne, isn't this gold?" asked Polly, working the large chunk
of ore from her shoe.
"It looks like it, Polly, but I'm no judge."
"Oh, let's crawl in and see the cave!" now begged Barbara eagerly.
"You know you'd get stuck in that narrow tunnel, Bob! Besides, I'm
starved," said Eleanor.
"Moreover, you wouldn't go when there seemed to be danger for the
girls, and I'm sure I'm not going to try it now!" added Anne.
"Dear me, won't any one go with me?" complained Barbara, who stooped to
gaze in at the tunnel, and seemed too fascinated to leave the spot.
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