"Not minted, of course," laughed Tom. "But here's something as good as money."
"Where did you get it?" Jim demanded, tersely, after one look at the nugget.
"In this ore-dump."
"Today's send-up, then?"
"Of course."
Without a word Ferrers fell at work on the pile of rocks, turning them over fast.
Tom helped him. The two men, released from hoisting duty, also aided.
"Nothing more like that sticking out of the rock," Jim grunted, turning to one of the men. "Bring me a sledge."
With that larger hammer, held in both hands, Jim placed ore pieces with his feet, swiftly bringing down sharp blows that reduced the rocks to nearly the size of pebbles.
"I don't see any more nuggets coming," mused! Tom. "But wait
a minute. Look at the yellow streak through some of these fragments."
"We're getting into the vein, I believe," spoke Jim solemnly.
"Look at the stuff! But wait! I've a little more hammering to do."