"Go on, my lad," prompted Mackay, patting the young man's shoulder, "allowin' what ye say to be right; what sort o' deduction do you arrive at?"
"I should think," said Bob, with growing eagerness, "that the gold would stick on the rise more than on the level, and that if we sank our shaft just over the apparent break of the channel we would most likely strike it rich."
"It seems good sound logic, Bob," commented Mackay, in reflective mood, "but as I'm a practical man and no' much o' a theorist, I'll no' venture to say whether ye are richt or wrang. One matter, however, must be determined afore I can completely side wi' ye, and that is in what direction was the creek flowing?"
Bob was for the moment nonplussed, and observing his hesitation, the man of practice seemed to be suddenly amused.
"That appears to be a tough proposition, doesn't it?" said he.
"It does," agreed Bob, still pondering over a solution to the question.
"Well, it isn't, my lad. The creek just flowed as you first allowed, in orthodox manner, from north to south. I'm vera pleased to notice how quickly you have got a grip o' things, an' I only asked the question so as to direct your attention to what must be the base o' your theory, for if the flow had been in the opposite direction the bottom would have been completely knocked oot o' your argument."
"But how can you tell how it was flowing?" asked Bob, still somewhat mystified.
"Easily enough; I had a look at Never Never Dave's shaft and paid particular attention to the nature o' the gold wash below. Every pebble o' the conglomerate stuff was water worn and mair or less wedge-shaped wi' the blunt ends facing in this direction. Now do you savvy? Observation is a grand virtue, Bob——"
"I am afraid you have been laughing at me," spoke the young man, gravely.