"I do not think it is likely. What we see here is a mere trace of surface oozing, found in many places, and it generally indicates petroleum at some depth, but whether in sufficient quantities to pay cannot be determined without boring."
George's hope of a better light faded.
Under the direction of the Professor the balance of the day was spent in gathering samples of minerals, and George, in one of his searches, brought a sample of very peculiar greenish ore, interlaid with patches of brown substance. The Professor was much delighted with this.
"You have found a fine sample of zinc, and if you direct us to the place we must take a quantity of it. I have been specially looking out for samples of this."
The ore was readily found, and a sufficient amount uncovered to complete their load, and late that evening they reached home very tired, but happy.
"Let us do some preliminary work with the furnaces to-day," was the Professor's first observation. "The ore we found yesterday is too good a thing to lie idle. You will remember I told you some time ago that we want some of these metals to be working for us?"
"Just like the germs do?"
"Not just in that way, but nevertheless they must serve us."
"If people get to know so much and have the different things do all the work there will not be much left for us to do?"
"Do you think so?"