"I want to judge how deep the place is." "Don't throw that," I said huskily.
"Why not ?" "It isn't a well." "What is it, then ?" "Look at this piece of stone," I said, and I held the under part upward so that the light fell upon two or three scale-like grains and a few fine yellowish-green threads which ran through it.

"It's an ancient mine, and this is gold." "Right!" cried Denham excitedly.

"Then that old place back there with the chimney is the old smelting-furnace." "Right you are, gentlemen," cried Briggs, slapping his thigh; "and I know what those two hand-barrow stones are.

I've seen one like 'em before." "What ?" I said eagerly.
"Moulds, sir, as the old people used to pour the melted stuff in.

They used to do it near my old home in Cornwall, only the metal there was tin.".