"Bring me a sledge."
With that larger hammer, held in both hands, Jim placed ore pieces
with his feet, swiftly bringing down sharp blows that reduced
the rocks to nearly the size of pebbles.
"I don't see any more nuggets coming," mused! Tom. "But wait
a minute. Look at the yellow streak through some of these fragments."
"We're getting into the vein, I believe," spoke Jim solemnly.
"Look at the stuff! But wait! I've a little more hammering to do."
Back of them stood the teamster, who had just come up with the horses.
"Am I to take that stuff and dump it down the ravine?" he asked
slowly.
"If you do," retorted Ferrers heatedly, "I'll hammer in the top
of your head, Andy! Reade, won't you pick out what you want for
the site of the ore-dump. We've got some real ore at last!"
One of the two hoist-men now ran to the shaft, shouting down the
great news.
"Hold on there, Bill," Tom called dryly. "Don't get the boys excited
over what may turn out to be nothing. Don't tell 'em any more than
that we have-----"
"Tell 'em yourself, boss," retorted Bill.
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