The ore may be rich enough to stand the extra cost, but I can tell you more when I have fired a shot." They went back to the camp, where the _Metis_ had cooked supper, but Thirlwell did not eat much and soon returned to the cliff.

He took the white rock-borer, but Agatha did not go with him.

She felt chilled by his quietness.

It was now plain that, since her father had marked off the exposed edge of the inclined lode, Thirlwell must sink a deep shaft if he wished to reach it farther back.

This, however, did not account for his moodiness; for one thing, he had not expected that they would find the ore.