"It doesn't seem as if anybody could ever have dug for gold in that horrid ditch," exclaimed Kyzie.
"You'd better believe they did, though," said the young guide. "They used to get it out in nuggets, cart-loads of it."
He was not quite sure of the nuggets, but liked the sound of the word.
"Yes, cart-loads of it. I tell you 'twas the richest mine in the whole Cuyamaca Mountains."
"Too bad the gold gave out," said Kyzie, gazing regretfully into the watery depths.
"But it didn't give out! Why, there's gold enough left down there to buy up the whole United States! They lost the vein, that's all"
"The vein? What's a vein?" asked Edith.
"Well, you see," replied the guide, "gold goes along underground in streaks; they call it veins. The miners had to stop digging here because they lost track of the streak. But they'll find it again."
"How do you know?" asked Jimmy-boy, who thought Nate was putting on too many airs.
"Because Mr. Templeton said so. They've sent for Colonel Somebody from I—forget where. He's a splendid mining engineer, great for finding lost veins. He'll be here next week and bring a lot of men."