Barney had also placed his helmet close to the others and heard this.
“Bejabers!” he cried; “then it’s a moighty fortune we’ve found.”
“I think it would assay heavily,” declared the professor; “if it was only on the surface, now, what it would be worth!”
Frank saw the point.
“But it is of no value here?”
The professor nodded.
“Exactly. How could a stamp mill be operated down here at this depth? It would cost more than the ore is worth to mine it.”
“But perhaps we might find some nuggets hereabouts.”
“No,” replied Von Bulow, decidedly. “It is not likely. It is probable that all the gold hereabouts is secreted in these quartz walls. It is only a question of getting it out.”
“Which is impracticable.”