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 two more will not count.  Suppose for awhile we follow that stream and see where it leads us.”

“Agreed—­a good idee,” said Jordan.  Taking with them two Boers, the engineer, and a pack animal with food and some blankets, they bade the rest keep the camp, as they might be absent two or three days.  They started down the stream.  It flowed in a general course to the west.  After a mile or more from the camp, the banks widened out into a wooded valley, several hundred yards across, but when six or seven miles had been traveled the valley narrowed down again, and the mountains closing in, made what, at a little distance, seemed a solid wall in front.  “Headed off once more, I fear,” said Sedgwick.