"Do you
know anything about gold?"
Sheldon smiled, while the two visitors hung eagerly upon his words.
"You can go two miles up the Balesuna and wash colours from the gravel.
I've done it often. There is gold undoubtedly back in the mountains."
Tudor and Von Blix looked triumphantly at each other.
"Old Wheatsheaf's yarn was true, then," Tudor said, and Von Blix nodded.
"And if Malaita turns out as well--"
Tudor broke off and looked at Joan.
"It was the tale of this old beachcomber that brought us here," he
explained. "Von Blix befriended him and was told the secret." He turned
and addressed Sheldon. "I think we shall prove that white men have been
through the heart of Guadalcanar long before the time of the Austrian
expedition."
Sheldon shrugged his shoulders.
"We have never heard of it down here," he said simply. Then he addressed
Von Blix. "As to the boys, you couldn't use them farther than Binu, and
I'll lend you as many as you want as far as that. How many of your party
are going, and how soon will you start?"
"Ten," said Tudor; "nine men and myself."
"And you should be able to start day after to-morrow," Von Blix said to
him. "The boats should practically be knocked together this afternoon.
To-morrow should see the outfit portioned and packed.
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