The first bucket of this stuff that was pulled up was deposited by him separately, and he at once sat down to wash it.

This he did in an open tin pan.

Handful after handful he washed, shifting and teasing it about in the pan, and then he cast it out, always leaving some very small residuum.

He was intent upon his business to a degree that Caldigate would have thought to be beyond the man's nature.

With extreme patience he went on washing handful after handful all the day, while the other two pulled up fresh buckets of the same stuff.