"Yes, I remember well," Ralph answered, looking up with an interested light in his eyes.
"I want to show it to you, my boy."
"Why, what's the use?" Ralph questioned, after a momentary pause. "If it were a reef of gold it would be of no value to us."
"Yes, that seems true enough now," David answered sadly, "but there's no knowing what may happen in the future."
"I don't see how we can ever benefit by it, whatever may happen."
"I am not thinking of myself, Ralph. My day's work is nearly over. But new conditions may arise, new discoveries may be made, and if you know, you may be able to sell your knowledge for something."
Ralph shook his head dubiously, and for several minutes they tramped along side by side in silence.
Then David spoke again.
"It is farewell to-day, my boy. We shall toil in these fields no more."
"That fact by itself does not trouble me," Ralph said.