s.

They kept their natives pounding rock all day, while they washed the
samples. They took the ore from every part of the dump. The result was
most satisfactory. "It will assay more than $30," said Jordan. "I believe
it will work up to $30 by mill process, for it's perfectly free gold ore
and not too fine."

The next day the inclines were all explored, and samples taken, step by
step--taken and marked, as they proceeded. The ore body where practically
exposed was carefully measured, and where any change was discernible it
was noted and special samples taken. The floor of the lowest level
reached was not only sampled, but a hole a couple of feet below the
lowest excavation was dug, and the samples were saved.

The vein was a contact between slate and granite, and was very regular in
size, and apparently in quality. The vein was exposed for probably 600
feet, and thence up the hill it was covered with debris. It was almost
night when the camp was reached, and the men were very tired.

Next morning the samples taken the previous day were crushed and
carefully washed.

When all was finished, Jordan said: "Jim, it's a honest mine. Ther only
drawback is ther place. I've no idee what er road would cost, but it
would take a power o' money, sho."

It was decided to try to explore the slope of the range they were on, up
and down, to see if a break in it could not somewhere be found. They
tried it to the north, and soon found themselves in a mighty gorge, with
great mountains closing them in from every direction except the one from
which they had come. They returned to camp, and one more day was gone.
The next morning they started early to the south, and toiled until eleven
o'clock, to find themselves once more ambuscaded by the precipitous
hills. Again they made their way back to camp, without comfort, except
that they had passed through a great forest of beech and yellow wood
sufficient for fuel and mine timbers for years.

Next morning when they had finished breakfast, Sedgwick asked Jordan what
his idea was by that time as to the best course to proceed.

Jordan shook his head, and said: "I'm afeerd we must try to build ther
road or invent a berloon."

From the spring there ran a considerable stream off at right angles from
the mine, and in exactly the opposite direction from whence they had
come.

Sedgwick said: "Tom, that stream, unless it sinks, finds its way to the
sea after awhile. We are in for it; a day or t