If he is dead why isn't he in the pool?
By George, I should think that Mukoki's old superstition would be getting the best of him!" "I believe he is in the pool!" declared Rod.
Wabi turned upon him and repeated the words he had spoken to the old warrior half an hour before.
"Try it!" After the attempts of the two Indians, who could dive like otter, Rod had no inclination to follow Wabi's invitation.

Mukoki, who had hung up a half of his clothes near the fire, was fitting one of the pans to the end of a long pole which he had cut from a sapling, and it was obvious that his intention was to begin at once the dredging of the pool for gold.

Rod joined him, and once more the excitement of treasure hunting stirred in his veins.

When the pan was on securely Wabi left the fire to join his companions, and the three returned to the pool.

With a long sweep of his improvised dredge Mukoki scooped up two quarts or more of sand and gravel and emptied it upon one of the flat rocks, and the two boys pounced upon it eagerly, raking it out with their fingers and wiping the mud and sand from every suspicious looking pebble.
"The quickest way is to wash it!" said Rod, as Mukoki dumped another load upon the rock.