"I knew!" he yelled. "I knew we'd strike it here."
"Well, stand back while I get her out," Potch cried.
Michael trembled as Potch fitted his spider and began to break the earth about the opal, working slowly, cautiously, and rubbing the earth away with his hands. Michael watched him apprehensively, exclaiming with wonder and admiration as the size of the stone was revealed.
When Potch had worked it out of its socket, the knobby was found to be even bigger than they had thought at first. The stroke which located it had chipped one side so that its quality was laid bare, and the chipped surface had the blaze and starry splendour of the finest black opal. Michael and Potch examined the stone, turned it over and over, tremulous and awed by its size and magnificence. Paul was delirious with excitement.
He was first above ground, and broke the news of Potch's find to the men who were knocking off for the day on other claims. When Michael and Potch came up, nearly a dozen men were collected about the dump. They gazed at the stone with oaths and exclamations of amazement and admiration.
"You've struck it this time, Potch!" Roy O'Mara said.
Potch flushed, rubbed the stone on his trousers, licked the chipped surface, and held it to the sun again.
"It's the biggest knobby—ever I see," Archie Cross said.
"Same here," Bill Grant muttered.
"Wants polishin' up a bit," Michael said, "and then she'll show better."