“Tin ore, my boy,” said Mr Temple quietly. “Those black grains are rich tin.”
“Well, I shouldn’t have thought that,” said Arthur; “and I should have thought that was gold or brass.”
“Then you would have thought wrong,” said Mr Temple sharply. “All is not gold that glitters, my boy; and you can’t find brass in the earth. What can you find, my lad?” he continued, turning sharply to Will.
“Copper, sir, and tin and zinc.”
“Then what is brass?” said Mr Temple.
“Copper and zinc mixed.”
“Not copper and tin?”
“Copper and tin, sir, make fine bronze, same as the ancient people used to hammer for swords and spears; but I can’t understand, sir, why two soft metals like copper and tin should make a hard one when they are mixed.”
“And I cannot explain it to you,” said Mr Temple smiling.
“Are we going to stop here long?” said Arthur impatiently.