a millionaire of rough-and-ready(粗犷的百万富翁)-第23节
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follow me and stop me when I go wrong。〃
He took the paper； and； in dead silence； read as follows：
〃DEAR WIFE；I've just struck gold in my tunnel； and you must get
ready to come here with the children； at once。 It was after six months'
hard work； and I'm so weak I 。 。 。 It's a fortune for us all。 We should be
rich even if it were only a branch vein dipping west towards the next
tunnel； instead of dipping east； according to my theory〃
〃Stop！〃 said Slinn； in a voice that shook the room。
Mulrady looked up。
〃It's wrong； ain't it？〃 he asked； anxiously； 〃it should be EAST towards
the next tunnel。〃
〃No！ IT'S RIGHT！ I am wrong！ We're all wrong！〃
Slinn had risen to his feet； erect and inspired。 〃Don't you see；〃 he
almost screamed； with passionate vehemence； 〃it's MASTERS'
ABANDONED TUNNEL your shaft has struck？ Not mine！ It was
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Masters' pick you found！ I know it now！〃
〃And your own tunnel？〃 said Mulrady； springing to his feet in
excitement。 〃And YOUR strike？〃
〃Is still there！〃
The next instant； and before another question could be asked； Slinn
had darted from the room。 In the exaltation of that supreme discovery he
regained the full control of his mind and body。 Mulrady and Don Caesar；
no less excited； followed him precipitately； and with difficulty kept up
with his feverish speed。 Their way lay along the base of the hill below
Mulrady's shaft； and on a line with Masters' abandoned tunnel。 Only
once he stopped to snatch a pick from the hand of an astonished Chinaman
at work in a ditch； as he still kept on his way； a quarter of a mile beyond
the shaft。 Here he stopped before a jagged hole in the hillside。 Bared to
the sky and air； the very openness of its abandonment； its unpropitious
position； and distance from the strike in Mulrady's shaft had no doubt
preserved its integrity from wayfarer or prospector。
〃You can't go in there alone； and without a light；〃 said Mulrady； laying
his hand on the arm of the excited man。 〃Let me get more help and
proper tools。〃
〃I know every step in the dark as in the daylight；〃 returned Slinn；
struggling。 〃Let me go； while I have yet strength and reason！ Stand
aside！〃
He broke from them； and the next moment was swallowed up in the
yawning blackness。 They waited with bated breath until； after a seeming
eternity of night and silence； they heard his returning footsteps； and ran
forward to meet him。 As he was carrying something clasped to his breast；
they supported him to the opening。 But at the same moment the object of
his search and his burden； a misshapen wedge of gold and quartz； dropped
with him； and both fell together with equal immobility to the ground。 He
had still strength to turn his fading eyes to the other millionaire of Rough…
and…Ready； who leaned over him。
〃Yousee；〃 he gasped； brokenly； 〃I was notcrazy！〃
No。 He was dead！
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