He said he had found it while exploring one of the rivers of the Urewera country.

I examined the quartz attentively.
It was emery rock, and imbedded in the pale green mass were ruby crystals, and true Oriental rubies at that.

I realized the valuable nature of the discovery, and questioned the man closely as to where he had obtained the ruby rock, but he became instantly suspicious, and guarded in his replies.

If I joined his party--well and good: he would show me the spot, and we would share and share alike, but he would tell me nothing otherwise.
"I decided to go, and the terms were agreed upon.

We set out from Auckland, the five of us, a week later.