At each prospect the "Wizard" loosened a small handful of gravel, examined it carefully and put it in a small buckskin bag, pencilling each bag in order. His expression changed not at all; he bore the true Western "poker face."
"What overlies this gravel?" he asked abruptly.
"Slate," said Jim.
"Let's see it!"
They climbed upwards.
On arriving at the stratum which lay above the gravel, dipping down at a sharp slope, the expert examined carefully the carbonaceous slate of which it was composed.
"We'll go back, now," he said at last.
But he expressed no opinion.
"What do you think of it, Mr. Juneau?" queried Owens, when the four climbers returned to the glory-hole. His tone seemed to suggest that he half hoped for an unfavorable answer.
"I'll tell you presently," was the non-committal answer.