Mr.Bickford and I were talking over our plans." "I wish I'd been awake when the skunk come round," said Bickford.
"I'd have grabbed him so he'd thought an old grizzly'd got hold of him." "Did you notice anything in his manner that led you to think he intended robbery ?" asked Kellogg.
"He was complainin' of his luck.

He thought Joe and I got more than our share, and I'm willin' to allow we have; but if we'd been as lazy and shif'less as Hogan we wouldn't have got down to the nugget at all." An informal council was held, and it was decided to pursue Hogan.

As it was uncertain in which direction he had fled, it was resolved to send out four parties of two men each to hunt him.

Joe and Kellogg went together, Joshua and another miner departed in a different direction, and two other pairs started out.
"I guess we'll fix him," said Mr.Bickford.

"If he can dodge us all, he's smarter than I think he is." Meanwhile Hogan, with the precious nugget in his possession, hurried forward with feverish haste.