midnight
` Solo ai n't a tent-robber ; he generally robs the people who rob us . A tent-robber is the meanest kind of hound that runs . ' Jim was grateful for this lesson in diggers ' ethics , and went peacefully to sleep on it , having by this time acquired complete confidence in Burton 's hiding-place . When the mates had more gold than they could carry in their belts with comfort , and trustworthy gold-buyers were not available , choosing a suitable hour long after midnight , Burton dug a hole near the tent , Jim keeping careful watch the while to make sure they were not observed . The gold was placed in a pan , and buried in this hole , and after that the camp-fire was built on the spot , and kept burning day and night . It never occurred to anyone to look under the fire for hidden gold . Their first claim was nearly worked out , and the two young men were busy below digging out the last of the wash-dirt , when a voice calling down the shaft caused both picks to be suspended simultaneously , and the mates looked curiously into each other 's faces in the dim candle-light .